Simon Gagne returns to Philadelphia as Tampa Bay Lightning win third straight
It may not have been as high profile a return as that of Mike Modano's return to Dallas, but Tampa Bay Lightning forward Simon Gagne suited up for the first time against his old team, the Philadelphia
Flyers on Thursday night. Although Gagne was held off the score sheet, his team, unlike Modano's, did get the win on as the Lightning won their third straight to open the season by a score of 3-2.
How it went down
Steven Stamkos, who scored a career high 51 goals last season, is off to a torrid pace so far this year as he opened the scoring at 15:11 of the first period with his fourth. Nikolay Zherdev answered back
for the Flyers two minutes later taking the Flyers into the first intermission tied 1-1 after outshooting the Lightning 14-5.
The Lightning took the game in hand in the second period with a goal from Dominic Moore, and then went up 3-1 early in the third when Pavel Kubina got his first of the season.
Daniel Briere pulled the Flyers a goal back with his third of the season, but by then it was too late and Lightning goalie Dan Ellis did enough to get the win.
What they're saying
The Flyers gave Gagne a warm welcome, cheering on their former player when he took his first shift. They cheered even louder midway through the first during a TV timeout when they showed a video montage
of Gagne and some of the highlights from his career as a Flyer.
"I was up for the faceoff, anyway, so I thought it was a good time to do it," Gagne said. "I wanted to cry. I had to stop watching (the video) a couple of times. A lot of emotion. Everything started here.
They showed my first goal and all the big goals. It's still hard to think about. They're always going to be in my heart. That's something I'll always remember."
"You don't really realize how important you come back and get a reaction like that," he added. "If you play for the Flyers your whole career, you might not have a chance to have an ovation like that. You
realize you were a big part of their life for 10 years, and that's really touching. They're always going to be in my heart. It's always going to be a special place for me."
What it all means
The Lightning are now one of only four teams who are still undefeated this season. They take on the Panthers in the battle for bragging rights in Florida on Saturday night.
For the Flyers, the loss to the Lightning was their first in regulation. They host Pennsylvania rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night. The Flyers won their previous matchup with the Penguins,
3-2 in Pittsburgh, back on opening night.
Tags: