That was a satisfying headline to write.

“Joel Farabee’s Four-Point Night Leads Flyers to Enjoyable Blowout Win Over Penguins”

The Flyers’ second-year left winger bagged a goal and two assists in a 6-3 game one win, sending the Yinzers back to their hotel in disappointment.

This was, believe it or not, the team’s fifth consecutive season-opening victory. Prior to last year’s win in Prague, the Flyers had ripped off three straight road wins to begin the season, dating back to the 2016-2017 campaign. And six goals was the most the Flyers have scored in an opener going way back to 2000, when they beat the Canucks by a similar 6-3 scoreline to begin that year. This was the fourth time in history the Flyers have scored that many goals in an opener.

Farabee played on the second line with Claude Giroux and Kevin Hayes, and his contributions were spread across all three periods. He began by assisting James van Riemsdyk on the power play opener, then found the net himself to make it 3-2 in the second. In the third, he assisted on Hayes’ goal to complete the route and put the game to bed.

For a quick laugh, we can take a look at the NHL points leaders after one game:

Just how we imagined it, right? Joel Farabee, for one night at least, finds himself among elite company.

He spoke to reporters after the game:

“Like I said during camp, I feel a lot more comfortable this year. I think we had some great additions to our team and we have four really good lines. The D is really strong. I think as a team we’re feeling really good. I happened to get a little lucky with some bounces, but overall I thought our team play was really good and we have a lot to build off.

…

I definitely put in a lot of time in the offseason, lifting, and trying to build as much strength as I can. Obviously camp was short, but I feel really good but our coaching staff put in a good plan for us and obviously the boys were ready tonight.”

Head coach Alain Vigneault echoed that sentiment.

“I believe that him putting the time and the effort that he did this summer shows his willingness to work on becoming the best player he can be. There is no doubt that there is a lot of skill and tools in Joel, but he is putting in the time and the effort and that is what players need to do. (Wednesday night), he came up real strong for us. I thought that line was effective. Their willingness to go to the net and stop in front was evident. There is no doubt that Joel was a big part of that line and the two goals that we got on the power play and getting the job done for us.”

Interestingly enough, per NHL Stats and Information, Farabee becomes the 10th different Flyer in franchise history to record four or more points in a single game prior to his 21st birthday.

The others are:

(thanks to the Flyers for putting this chart together)

So far, so good for Young Beezer. The Flyers and Penguins square off again Friday night at 7 p.m. as part of this crunched NHL schedule.

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