Yakemchuk's power-play goal lifts Senators past winless Flyers
The 21-year-old defenceman broke a 1-1 tie in the third period as Ottawa won its home opener and Philadelphia fell to 0-3-2.
Carter Yakemchuk one-timed a shot from the point past Joseph Woll at 13:01 of the third period, and the Ottawa Senators beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in their home opener at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday.
The goal came on the power play off a feed from Claude Giroux. It was the second NHL goal for the 21-year-old defenceman, who scored once in four games last season.
"Ah, I was excited," Yakemchuk said. "I think we battled hard all game, and to finally get rewarded with one on the power play felt really good."
Ottawa coach Travis Green said the team stuck with Yakemchuk. "It'd be easy to just not play him or put someone else out there, but we stuck with him."
Nick Cousins opened the scoring at 10:14 of the first, tipping a Tyler Kleven shot from the point. Matvei Michkov tied it at 7:46 of the second on the power play, tapping in a loose puck on the backhand after a Trevor Zegras shot trickled through Linus Ullmark's pads. Ullmark finished with 28 saves for the Senators, who are 3-1-0 through 4 games. Woll stopped 24 for the Flyers.
Philadelphia (0-3-2) has now lost its first five games. The Flyers went 1-for-4 on the power play, including a 27-second 5-on-3 that began at 7:50 of the third period.
"I think the 5-on-3 at the end is probably the spot where we need to get one, and I take responsibility for that," Zegras said.
Flyers coach Rick Tocchet saw something to work with. "We competed well, the passing was better, so yeah, there's something to build on there."
There was a cost for Ottawa. Forward William Eklund left in the first period with a lower-body injury after Flyers defenceman Simon Benoit hit him awkwardly into the boards. He couldn't put weight on his left leg as he went down the tunnel and did not return. Green had no update on his condition.
