Photo credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Wayne Simmonds scored a hat-trick in the Flyers’ 5-3 season opening win against the San Jose Sharks. He’s tied with Connor McDavid of the Oilers for the league lead in goals after he scored three against Calgary.
He was part of a dominant power play unit which went 3-for-5 on the night, and scored two of his three goals on the man advantage:
His third came in the final minute of play on an empty netter:
But even outside of those three goals, Simmonds set up a couple of good chances throughout the night. He set up Sean Couturier on a shorthanded opportunity, but Coots couldn’t capitalize:
Later in the third, Simmonds found Jordan Weal on the doorstep of the net, but Sharks goalie Martin Jones put his pad out for the stop:
Simmer was the star of the game, but there were plenty of things to be happy about. Claude Giroux and Jordan Weal had the other two goals, while Jake Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehere had three assists each.
We’ll have more from the season opener later today. The Flyers take on the Los Angeles Kings at 10 p.m. Get the Red Bull ready again.