Couturier scores twice and secures Flyers' 5-2 win over Panthers in Tocchet's home coaching debut

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sean Couturier’s second goal of the game with 4:10 remaining snapped a tie and sent the Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Monday night in Rick Tocchet's home coaching debut.

Bobby Brink and Christian Dvorak added late empty-netters for the Flyers.

The Flyers captain, Couturier became the longest-tenured athlete in Philadelphia sports once Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham retired at the end of last season.

The Flyers lost their first two games of the season on the road but got a needed lift on a throwback night at home. Tyson Forrester scored in the first period and Couturier followed with his first of the season in the second for a 2-0 lead.

Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett rallied the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers with goals but they lost for the first time in four games.

Tocchet easily received the loudest cheers from fans during pregame introductions ahead of the home opener. The Flyers hired the former fan favorite as coach in hopes his return would push them out of an extended rebuild and into playoff contention. Tocchet, who played more than a decade with Philadelphia in separate stints at the start and end of his career, is at the start of his fourth head-coaching job after time with Tampa Bay, Arizona and Vancouver.

Tocchet took over months after the Flyers fired John Tortorella with nine games left in another losing season for a franchise that hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2020.

Philadelphia, once a model franchise in the league, has one of the longest championship droughts in the NHL.

The Flyers have failed to win the Stanley Cup since going back to back in 1974 and ’75. Those Broad Street Bullies teams have become a cherished part of the franchise’s past but also a reminder of how much time it has been since the Flyers won: They last played in the final in 2010.

The Flyers opened with a somber nod to those Bullies teams with a tribute for the late Hall of Fame goalie Bernie Parent. Parent, who died in September at 80, won Conn Smythe and Vezina trophies in back-to-back seasons for the Stanley Cup champions. The Flyers painted his retired uniform number “1” behind each net and chose to bypass a moment of silence for fans to instead “show the same passion he lived for with a standing ovation.” They will wear a “1” jersey patch this season.

Panthers: Play Sunday at Winnipeg.

Flyers: Host Winnipeg on Thursday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Florida Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe, right, passes the puck past Philadelphia Flyers' Adam Ginning, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell, left, and Philadelphia Flyers right wing Bobby Brink, right, vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Flyers' Nikita Grebenkin, left, and Florida Panthers' Evan Rodrigues, right, battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet, center top, looks on before an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet, center, looks on from the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

NEW YORK (AP) — OG Anunoby scored 31 points, Mitchell Robinson had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and the New York Knicks routed the Chicago Bulls 136-96 on Friday night in a game they led by 47 points.

Anunoby was 9 for 15 from the field, including 7 for 10 from 3-point range, and Robinson made each of his seven shots starting in place of All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who did not play because of a right elbow impingement.

All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson had 17 points and 10 assists to help the Knicks win their second consecutive game after dropping three in a row.

For New York (50-28), the blowout victory cemented its third consecutive season with at least 50 wins — a feat the club had not accomplished since the 1991-92 to 1993-94 campaigns. The Knicks lost the 1994 NBA Finals to Houston and were able to surpass the 50-win plateau the following season.

Collin Sexton had 19 points for the Bulls. They have lost their last six games and 10 of 12.

New York led 38-16 at the end of the first quarter by taking advantage of Chicago’s offensive struggles as they went on an 18-0 run before Sexton’s 3-pointer cut the Bulls’ deficit to 20-4 with 5:25 remaining in the period. Chicago missed 10 shots and had five turnovers during the woeful stretch.

New York’s offense overwhelmed the Bulls by outscoring them 40-25 in the second quarter to lead 78-41 at the break.

Bulls: Host Phoenix on Sunday night.

Knicks: At Atlanta on Monday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton (2) drives to the basket past New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) drives to the basket past New York Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) drives to the basket past New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) and New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) gestures after scoring a three point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) and teammate Josh Hart (3) high-five during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)