Panthers Lose 6-2 To Flyers

SUNRISE, Fla. — James van Riemsdyk had a goal and two assists and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Florida Panthers 6-2 on Thursday night.

Robert Hagg, Sean Couturier, Scott Laughton, Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Tyler Pitlick scored for the Flyers. Carter Hart made 26 saves for his first road win in eight games. Hart had lost his last seven road starts since a 3-2 shootout victory against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 10.

“I didn’t know that,” Hart said. “I prepare the same. There’s no difference from playing at home than playing on the road because it’s the same puck, it’s the same ice surface, it’s the same boards. It’s all the same.”

Justin Braun had three assists and Matt Niskanen had two as the Flyers improved to 9-3-1 in their past 12 games.

“It seems like all lines have been contributing. That’s what you need,” van Riemsdyk said.

Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau scored for Florida. Sergei Bobrovsky allowed three goals on nine shots and was relieved by Sam Montembeault at the start of the second period. Montembeault made 16 saves. The Panthers dropped to 2-5-1 in their last eight games.

Trailing 4-0, Huberdeau’s shot from below the right circle got by Hart 33 seconds into the third to make the score 4-1.

Barkov’s wrist shot from the left circle found the net at 4:56 and closed the score to 4-2.

Couturier’s goal, a shot from the slot, beat Montembeault and made the score 5-2 with 5:08 left in the third. Hagg’s power-play goal made the score 6-2 with 27 seconds left.

“They had their push, but we kind of refocused as the third went on and finished strong,” Couturier said.

The Flyers took a 3-0 lead in the first.

Van Riemsdyk poked a rebound past Bobrovsky 4:24 in to make the score 1-0. Pitlick fired a shot from the right circle that went top shelf with 2:23 left in the first that made it 2-0. Aube-Kuble found a loose puck in front of the net after Florida’s MacKenzie Weegar misplayed the rebound and beat Bobrovsky with 1:28 left to stretch the lead to 3-0.

Laughton’s goal, a shot from close range after a feed from van Riemsdyk, built the lead to 4-0 with 1:02 left in the second.

“It was pretty ugly. A couple went in early and we lost a little of our compete,” Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said.

The Panthers have lost five of their past six.

“Whatever we’re doing out there is not near good enough,” forward Brian Connolly said.

NOTES: Flyers D Travis Sanheim left early in the third with an upper-body injury. … D Shayne Gostisbehere missed his fourth consecutive game with a knee injury. … Barkov’s goal was his 152nd, tying him with Pavel Bure for third in franchise history. … Panthers C Noel Acciari left in the second period with an upper-body injury. … D Brian Boyle missed his fifth straight game with an upper-body injury. … The Panthers are 0 for 12 on the power play in their last four games.