Anthony Stolarz of Flyers wins NHL debut

PHILADELPHIA -- After being recalled from the American Hockey League 10 times and spending 26 games as an NHL backup goaltender the past three seasons, Anthony Stolarz made his NHL debut a successful one.
Stolarz made 29 saves in the Philadelphia Flyers' 5-3 win against the Calgary Flames at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday.

"Being able to win your first start is huge," Stolarz said. "Kind of gets you a little more comfortable. I think my pro debut in the American league, I don't think I won for the first five games."
WATCH: All Flames vs. Flyers highlights
Stolarz, selected by the Flyers in the second round (No. 45) of the 2012 NHL Draft, is the first goaltender born in New Jersey to play in the NHL.
"He was outstanding today," forward Jakub Voracek said. "He made himself big when he needed to. He made huge saves in the second period there when the game was 2-1, 3-1. Was really important for us. It was good to see him get that first win."
Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Chris VandeVelde and Roman Lyubimov each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (10-10-3), who won for the first time in three games. Michael Raffl also scored.

TJ Brodie had a goal and an assist, and Matthew Tkachuk and Alex Chiasson scored for the Flames (10-13-1). Chad Johnson made 38 saves.
VandeVelde and Lyubimov joined Brayden Schenn on the fourth line, and coach Dave Hakstol called it the Flyers' best Sunday.
"I thought that line kind of epitomized our game tonight," Hakstol said. "With Brayden Schenn in the middle, they just played great all night. Their 5-on-5 play was straight line, hard-nosed. … Lot of contributions from that line to our win tonight."

The Flyers led 2-1 when VandeVelde tipped a Lyubimov feed past Johnson at 7:20 of the second period. Simmonds scored on a breakaway 24 seconds later to put the Flyers ahead 4-1.
"When you're getting production from all four lines, it's a good thing," Simmonds said. "That's what takes teams really far in this League, when you're getting production from everybody. Thought those guys have done a good job this year, and they were lights-out tonight."
Tkachuk tipped a Dougie Hamilton feed past Stolarz for a power-play goal to get the Flames within 4-2 at 8:05 of the third period, but Lyubimov scored on the rebound of a Michael Del Zotto shot at 9:55 to put the Flyers ahead 5-2. It was Lyubimov's first multipoint NHL game, and came after being a healthy scratch the past seven games.

"Tonight energy-wise was his best game, which can be real hard to do when you haven't played in nearly two weeks," Hakstol said. "But he came in, he was sharp, his energy level was great."
The Flames took the lead at 7:42 of the first period when Brodie scored shorthanded, but the Flyers tied it on Raffl's goal at 17:42. The Flyers outshot the Flames 15-7 in the first period.
"I was very disappointed with our guys after the first," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. "I let them know that and it didn't get any better in the second."

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Goal of the game

Claude Giroux made a seam pass to Voracek along the goal line on the right side of the Flames zone. His sharp-angle shot bounced off the skate of Flames captain Mark Giordano and over Johnson's shoulder for a power-play goal 52 seconds into the second period to give the Flyers a lead they never relinquished.

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Save of the game

At 14:43 of the second period, Backlund shot while cutting through the crease, but Stolarz got his right pad on it.

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Unsung moment of the game

Schenn raced deep to pressure Johnson, who was playing the puck behind his net. Johnson's errant pass went to Lyubimov and led to VandeVelde's goal at 7:20 of the second.

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Highlight of the game

Flyers center Nick Cousins blocked a shot by Flames defenseman Brett Kulak, started the play the other way and split Kulak and defense partner Deryk Engelland with a pass to send Simmonds alone on Johnson. Simmonds deked and lifted a backhand over Johnson for his Flyers-best 11th goal at 7:44 of the second.

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They said it

"We probably don't use any of it. It's how we play tomorrow and we can just have a fresh start when we wake up in the morning." -- Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk

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Need to know

Frolik played in his 600th NHL game. … Giroux's assist on Voracek's goal gave him 536 points, one more than Simon Gagne for 10th on the Flyers' scoring list. It also was his 366th assist, tying Rod Brind'Amour for seventh in Flyers history.

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What's next

Flames: At the New York Islanders on Monday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, SNW, NHL.TV)
Flyers: Host the Boston Bruins on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SNO, TVA Sports, NESN, NHL.TV)