PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cam Atkinson scored twice and Sean Walker added his first goal with Philadelphia as the Flyers beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-1 on Thursday night.
Atkinson, who missed all of last season with a neck injury, has played a role in the Flyers’ 3-1 start. He scored his first goal of the game early in the second period when netted a tap-in in front of Edmonton goalie Jack Campbell. Owen Tippett made a nice spin move along the boards and fired a pass that Atkinson converted.
Atkinson scored his third goal of the season, also on a pass from Tippett, on a shot from the slot early in the third period.
Walker scored his first goal since February, ending a 25-game drought, by firing a wrist shot past Campbell on a short-handed rush with 1:31 remaining in the second.
Joel Farabee opened the scoring in the first period for Philadelphia. Carter Hart made 22 saves.
Zach Hyman scored for Edmonton, his second of the season, on a play started by Conor McDavid.
Considered a Stanley Cup contender, the Oilers have gotten off to a slow start this season, dropping three of their first four games.
Philadelphia was able to stifle the high-powered Edmonton offense despite playing down a defenseman after veteran Marc Staal didn’t return following an awkward collision with Edmonton F Warren Foegle at 4:24 of the second period. The Flyers said Staal sustained an upper body injury.
BEEN A WHILE
Coming off a shutout in his last start, Hart went 114:51 over parts of three games between goals allowed. He has gotten off to a fast start for the Flyers (3-1-0), with a 2.00 GAA.
NOTES: Despite being a full participant in practice, Flyers D Rasmus Ristolainen (undisclosed) has been sidelined for all four of Philadelphia’s contests. … Despite being named the first star in the Flyers previous game, D Egor Zamula was a healthy scratch. As was F Morgan Frost, who was out of the lineup for the second straight game. … Edmonton D Vincent Desharnais suited up after missing the previous two games as a healthy scratch. He replaced D Philip Broberg as the Oilers looked to add some size against a Philadelphia team that plays a physical brand of hockey.
UP NEXT
Oilers: Host Winnipeg on Saturday night.
Flyers: Travel to Dallas on Saturday night.
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