Rudolfs Balcers scored the go-ahead goal with 16:09 left in the third period as the host Florida Panthers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3, on Wednesday night in Sunrise, Fla.

Florida, which played its home opener, prevailed despite placing standout defenseman Aaron Ekblad on long-term injured reserve prior to the game. Ekblad has a groin injury that will keep him out at least one month.

The Panthers also got two goals from Carter Verhaeghe and one from Josh Mahura. The goals from Balcers and Mahura were the first as members of the Panthers for both players.

Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett each added two assists, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves for the win.

The Flyers, who lost for the first time this season after three early wins, got goals from Nick Seeler, James van Riemsdyk and Travis Konecny.

Flyers backup goalie Felix Sandstrom, who made his season debut, made 31 saves in a losing effort.

Florida got the game’s first two goals, but Philadelphia closed the first period by closing its deficit to 2-1.

Verhaeghe opened the scoring with 6:06 expired as Barkov retrieved the puck from behind the Flyers’ net to set up the play. Barkov then passed to Verhaeghe, who scored from the right circle on a wrist shot that went just past Sandstrom’s head.

Less than three minutes later, Verhaeghe struck again, scoring on the rush and beating Sandstrom’s glove for the second straight time. Gustav Forsling got the primary assist.

The Flyers finally got on the board with 3:29 left in the first as Kevin Hayes won a race to the puck and passed it back to Seeler, who scored on his backhand. It was just Seeler’s fourth career goal in his fifth year in the league.

Philadelphia tied the score 2-2 with the only goal of the second period. Working their power play, the Flyers scored when van Riemsdyk swatted in a loose puck in front of the crease.

However, the Panthers took control with third-period goals from Balcers and Mahura. Balcers’ goal was especially nifty as he took a short pass from Bennett and lifted the puck past Sandstrom with his backhand.

Philadelphia outshot Florida 19-9 in the third period but couldn’t get a goal until Konecny scored with three seconds left. Prior to that, the Flyers went scoreless for two minutes despite a 6-on-4 skater advantage as they pulled Sandstrom and drew a penalty on Forsling.

–Field Level Media