LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers are starting to find ways to overcome their own mistakes.They proved it against the floundering Los Angeles Kings
Adidas Patrik Berglund Jersey , putting together their first winning streak of the season in the process.Oskar Lindblom had a goal and an assist as the Flyers defeated the Kings 5-2 on Thursday night.Ivan Provorov scored for the second straight game and the Flyers won consecutive games for the first time. Brian Elliott made 25 saves, and Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds each had a goal.“We’ve played pretty good hockey at different times,” coach Dave Hakstol said. “We just haven’t been consistent enough from one game to the next. And there’s been games we haven’t been consistent enough period to period. That’s what we’ve been able to do the last two nights is put consistent play together for 60 minutes.”Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and an assist, and Jeff Carter scored a power-play goal for the Kings, who have lost seven of eight. Los Angeles has allowed at least three goals in each of those eight games.Jack Campbell, who will be the starting goalie for three to six weeks as Jonathan Quick recovers from knee surgery, made 26 saves.Lindblom made it 3-1 at 14:05 of the second period when a video review determined he kicked the puck in off Kings defenseman Sean Walker’s stick, confirming the original call on the ice.Kovalchuk cut the deficit to 3-2 at 18:49, his fifth point in two games. Kovalchuk has two goals and three assists during that span.Giroux put the Flyers back up by two at 14:27 of the third, and Robert Hagg added an empty-net goal at 16:49.“It’s not where we want it to be, but I think we’re doing lots of good things,” Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas said. “I think we’re stepping in the right direction.”The Flyers went in front 2-1 on Simmonds’ goal at 10:53 of the second
Adidas Vladimir Sobotka Jersey , 49 seconds after Carter scored on a backhand following up his own rebound.Philadelphia mounted a similar response in a 3-2 win at Anaheim on Tuesday, with Nolan Patrick scoring the winner 21 seconds after the Flyers allowed the tying goal.“We’re learning from our mistakes earlier,” said center Sean Couturier, who had an assist. “It’s a long game and we’re getting some good response right after, and we need that. It’s a tight game, you’ve got to keep playing. The next line, that’s two games in a row where we do a great job getting a big lead back.”While the Flyers have been better able to respond positively to those circumstances, Carter viewed allowing the goal so quickly as a reflection of the Kings’ largely stagnant play.“It’s just kind of the way things are going right now for us,” he said. “We need to stick together and use that positive momentum to our advantage. We’re getting it and we’re giving it right back. It’s tough right now.”Provorov put the Flyers ahead 1-0 at 17:35 of the first period, scoring in the slot on a one-timer from Dale Weise.Jordan Weal pressured defenseman Derek Forbort into losing the puck in the neutral zone, the kind of breakdowns Kings coach John Stevens said have been occurring too frequently.“A step slow with the puck, and a step slow checking to get the puck back
Adidas Scott Wedgewood Jersey , and too much time in your zone,” Stevens said. “Too many bad things happening.”NOTES: Flyers G Michal Neuvirth did not dress for what the team described as precautionary reasons. Calvin Pickard served as Elliott’s backup. … Kings D Paul LaDue is day to day after sustaining an upper-body injury in practice Wednesday. … Flyers forward Corban Knight will be out four months after undergoing surgery on his collarbone.UP NEXTFlyers: Visit the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.Kings: Continue their seven-game homestand Saturday against Columbus. The Carolina Hurricanes have undergone considerable change in the offseason, with the makeover creating heightened expectations going into the season.That description perhaps relates to perhaps an even larger degree for the New York Islanders.After all, fresh off coaching the Washington Capitals to a Stanley Cup championship, Barry Trotz is on board directing the Islanders.Article continues below ...New York and the Hurricanes begin the season with a clash Thursday night at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.Trotz became the Islanders coach two weeks after he guided the Capitals to the Stanley Cup in June. He has offered solid reviews for how his new team has responded during the preseason.“They’ve been fantastic,” Trotz said of his players. “They’ve been listening and doing the right things.”Former Hurricanes captain Rod Brind’Amour is the Carolina coach, taking over after Bill Peters opted out of his contract and landed as the coach of the Calgary Flames.Brind’Amour had been serving as an assistant coach, but he’s most recognizable as the captain of the 2006 team that that captured the franchise’s only Stanley Cup.“I like how young guys are playing,” Brind’Amour said. “They’re going to take some time to develop. As far as talent, I don’t feel we’re short anything. We want to play aggressively.”Another throwback to that title team is winger Justin Williams, who was named the Hurricanes’ captain.“I see us trending upward
Adidas Carter Hutton Jersey ,” Williams said.The Islanders, who have missed the playoffs the past two seasons, have Thomas Greiss and Robin Lehner as goalies. Now it’s a matter of blending the roster.“We’ve got a lot of new players on the hockey club,” said Trotz, whose team will carry seven defensemen to start the season. “I’m a big believer in team building. If the group is strong, all that stuff becomes a tighter bond. We’ve got some guys getting an identity and I think we’ve got some guys going in the right direction.”The Hurricanes haven’t reached the postseason since 2009, so the drought is notable and comes with change.The roster makeover included the departure of former NHL Rookie of the Year Jeff Skinner, a forward who was traded to the Buffalo Sabres for prospects.After a splendid 5-0-1 preseason, the Hurricanes were forced to scramble when goalie Scott Darling suffered an injury in the last preseason outing that might keep him out for a couple of weeks. Carolina claimed Curtis McElhinney off waivers from Toronto.The opening-night starter in net for the Hurricanes will be Petr Mrazek.Darling, who was largely disappointing in his first season with the Hurricanes, had made an impression in recent weeks.“I hate it for him more than anything because he put in the work this summer,” Brind’Amour said. “In the little time we got to see him
Adidas Conor Sheary Jersey , he looked to different to me.”Carolina also is carrying seven defensemen at the start. One of them is newcomer Calvin de Haan, who played last season for the Islanders. New York winger Andrew Ladd, who began his career with Carolina, begins the season on injured reserve.The Islanders were 2-2 against Carolina last season, with Greiss in net for both the victories.This is the Islanders’ 47th season, but only the second time they’ll face the Hurricanes in an opener. In 2014, New York began the season by defeating Carolina.The Islanders are 9-19-8 when opening the season on the road. Overall, they are 11-23-11 in openers for the third-worst mark among current NHL franchises — with Carolina at 9-20-9 even worst (counting time as the Hartford Whalers).This marks the first opening of the season for Carolina under new team owner Tom Dundon, whose purchase of the team became official last winter.
