Atkinson scores twice, Flyers shut down Oilers

PHILADELPHIA -- Cam Atkinson scored two goals for the Philadelphia Flyers in a 4-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.

Joel Farabee and Sean Walker scored, and Sean Couturier and Owen Tippett each had two assists for Philadelphia (3-1-0). Carter Hart made 22 saves.

"I thought tonight we checked well," Flyers coach John Tortorella said. "Not only checking but I thought we were clean through the neutral zone. We didn't turn many [pucks] over. You just can't turn it over with that team. Their offensive people don't want to play in their end zone, so we really tried to concentrate on just placing pucks in their end zone and playing there. Getting through the neutral zone clean was a very important part of tonight's game."

Zach Hyman scored for Edmonton, which has lost three of its first four games (1-3-0). Jack Campbell made 28 saves.

"I thought our game lacked urgency today," Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. "I didn't see second and third effort in all areas of the game from up and down our lineup. Not to our standard; we play towards a standard and it wasn't there for us tonight and that's disappointing."

Atkinson, who missed last season because of a neck injury, had his first two-goal game since March 5, 2022.

He gave the Flyers a 2-0 lead at 3:54 of the second period, tipping a centering pass from Tippett past Campbell.

Atkinson scored again at 4:17 of the third period to make it 4-1.

"It feels good," Atkinson said. "I love playing at home in front of our fans. Kind of gives me a little bit more motivation, family in town and stuff like that. It's always nice to score goals. That's what I'm here to do."

Tortorella, who coached Atkinson for six seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, said games like Thursday will provide a big confidence boost as Atkinson continues to get back into game shape.

"I do know Cam very well and that's going to help him," he said. "Just scoring a goal always helps a goal-scorer."

Atkinson, Couturier and Tippett were matched as a line against the Oilers' top line of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane. McDavid had one shot attempt, a missed shot in the first period. It was the fifth time in four seasons McDavid, who led the NHL in scoring the previous three seasons, was held without a shot on goal.

"There's only so much you can do when he's on the ice," Atkinson said. "It's situational awareness. When he's on the ice you have to swing with him at all costs, because when he gets the puck with speed, no one can touch him. So we kind of talked as a line that whenever he's swinging, someone needs to pick him up at all times and I think we did a good job of that."

Farabee finished a give-and-go with Bobby Brink at 15:50 of the first period to make it 1-0.

After Atkinson scored his first goal, Hyman made it 2-1 at 15:23, backhanding a puck past Hart from the crease. McDavid had an assist to extend his point streak to four games (two goals, four assists).

"I think we all have another level to get to," McDavid said. "We haven't been there yet this season. Lucky for us it's only four games, but that being said, it's four games. It's time to put our best foot forward here and start playing good games."

Walker scored his first goal with the Flyers and his first NHL short-handed goal to make it 3-1 at 18:29, keeping the puck on a 2-on-1 rush with Farabee and scoring past Campbell's blocker.

"Coming back and scoring that short-handed goal right away was important," Tortorella said. "It kind of got us back on our toes a little bit."

Atkinson's goal in the third closed the scoring and handed Edmonton its third loss in four games to start the season.

"We simply got outworked," Oilers forward Warren Foegele said. "They wanted it more than us. Can't win a game if you don't want it. Execution wasn't good either. That's what's been hurting us for a couple games. We're not clean, we're not quick. When we are quick we're a dangerous team and right now we're not."

NOTES: Draisaitl had his goal streak ended at three games, one short of the Edmonton record to start a season. ... McDavid has 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) during a nine-game point streak against Philadelphia. ... Flyers defenseman Marc Staal sustained an upper-body injury at 4:24 of the second period and did not return. There was no update after the game.