Philadelphia Flyers’ Best Outdoor Game Moments

On Friday, Broad Street Buzz ranked the worst three moments in Flyers’ outdoor game history. Today, we look at the top three. It wasn’t easy.

To see the worst three moments, click here.

3. Dan Carcillo-Shawn Thornton Fight

Whether you like fighting in the NHL or not, there’s no denying that the Flyers have long been a team that used intimidation, stemming to fighting, as a way to play and overmatch opponents. With that in mind, it was neat to see Philly’s Daniel Carcillo participate in the first fight in an outdoor game.

Twelve minutes into the 2010 Winter Classic, Carcillo and Boston Bruin’s Shawn Thornton dropped the gloves. It was a punch-for-punch fight that you don’t see too much in today’s game. Carcillo got the last punch that dropped Thornton and earned the pair the first five-minute fighting penalties in an NHL outdoor game.

2. Brayden Schenn’s First NHL Goal vs. Rangers

The 2011-12 season was a fun one for the Flyers. The team shipped out cornerstones Mike Richards and Jeff Carter in the offseason and new acquisitions like Jaromir Jagr, Jake Voracek and Wayne Simmonds gave the team a whole new identity.

One of those players was Brayden Schenn. Acquired in the Richards trade, the then-20 year old had spent time earlier in the season on injured reserve and with the Adirondack Phantoms. By the time of the 2012 Winter Classic, he was back with the Flyers, but still looking for his first NHL goal, and point of the season (he carried two assists from his Kings days).

Just under 13 minutes into the game, Flyers defenseman Matt Carle floated a shot at the Rangers’ net. Henrik Lundqvist misplayed the puck out to a waiting Schenn who easily banged the rebound into the net for his first NHL goal and a 1-0 lead. The right winger’s excitement showed as he jumped into the glass in celebration.

1. Danny Syvret’s First NHL Goal vs. Bruins

As mentioned in yesterday’s Worst Moments, the 2010 Winter Classic had a different atmosphere surrounding it than the outdoor games do today. When Syvret scored the first goal of the game versus the Bruins and the Flyers’ first outdoor goal, it was a memorable event.

But it wasn’t just the goal or, like Schenn’s, Syvret’s first of his career that makes it number one on the list. It’s how it happened.

Tim Thomas, one of the best goalies in the league at the time, but also one of the most aggressive, was in net for the Bruins. Scott Hartnell (maybe) purposefully ran into the Bruins’ netminder on a Flyers rush. The puck didn’t leave the zone and Hartnell set up in front of the net as Thomas got back up.

In retaliation, Thomas pushed Hartnell to the ice with both hands at the same moment Syvret shot. With the goalie looking for retribution rather than the puck, it easily found the vacant net. There wasn’t a lot of great moments for the Flyers after that goal, in that game or any other outdoor one, but it’s hard to find a more funny moment.