The Edmonton Oilers suffered their first loss of the season, falling 5-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday night at Rogers Place.
“That could be some of the best hockey we’ve played all season,” Oilers head coach Dave Tippett said. “A couple mistakes, a couple bad bounces, and we’re chasing the game a little bit.”
LISTEN BELOW: Oilers coach Dave Tippett speaks following Edmonton’s Wednesday night loss to the Flyers
Claude Giroux grabbed a missed shot off the backboards and wrapped it around to open the scoring. Mikko Koskinen misplayed the puck behind his net to set up the Flyers’ second goal by Nate Thompson.
The Oilers came back 35 seconds later with Tyson Barrie flipping a backhand past Carter Hart for his first of the season. Connor McDavid had his pass attempt tick in off Justin Braun for a power-play goal with 17.8 seconds to go in the first.
“I thought we just needed a little more polish around the net,” McDavid said.
“I missed a couple. I thought (Puljujarvi) had some good chances that went awry, and I thought our D jumped in and had some great shots from the point that I’m not sure how they got a body (in front of).”
The Flyers regained the lead with just 0.6 on the clock when Cam Atkinson whapped a bouncing puck past Koskinen.
LISTEN BELOW: Tyson Barrie and Connor McDavid speak following Edmonton’s Wednesday night loss to the Flyers
“He’s been a good player for a long time and his work ethic, I think, is a big part of it,” Barrie said of Atkinson.
“He’s obviously super skilled, but he works every shift, and he’s got a good shot.”
Zach Hyman scored the only goal of the second period, converting a pass from Jesse Puljujarvi in the first minute of the frame. Hyman has five goals in his last three games.
Atkinson drilled a long shot under Koskinen to restore the Flyers’ lead four minutes into the third. The Oilers went on the power play with six minutes left but couldn’t muster the tying goals.
“We definitely had enough chances. Bottom line is they just got that extra one,” Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said.
Sean Couturier put it away with an empty netter.
Hart made 34 saves while Koskinen made 30.
The Oilers, 5-1, will visit Vancouver on Saturday.
– With files from 630 CHED’s Brenden Escott
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