WATCH: Flyers Make NHL History — In Loss

The Flyers made hockey history last night. Unfortunately, they were on the wrong end of it.

After ending regulation tied at 2, the Flyers and Lightning went to overtime. This year, the NHL is using new rules in an attempt to have games end in OT rather than go to a shootout: 3-on-3! Last night’s game, the season opener for both teams, was the first 3-on-3 OT in NHL history.

And, yeah, the Flyers lost in OT. Tampa Bay’s Jason Garrison scored on a breakaway 2:17 into overtime. It was his second goal of the game.

The Flyers came into the season with low expectations, but looked pretty good last night. New coach Dave Hakstol was encouraged by the team’s performance against the defending Eastern Conference champion Lightning. The Flyers led, 2-1, at one point. Unfortunately, they also missed two penalty shots, including one in overtime.

The Flyers scored two goals in two minutes in the second period. Matt Read scored after some pretty passing between him, Scott Laughton and R.J. Umberger. Brayden Schenn then scored on the power play, with assists from Umberger and Evgeny Medvedev. The Lightning’s Ryan Callahan scored on the power play to even the game.

Then, the overtime. Pro Hockey Talk notes everyone who watched it pretty much loved it. It is back-and-forth, nonstop action. This is kind of what hockey is like already, so it’s weird that somehow the 3-on-3 OT is even better. Hopefully the Flyers will be playing lots more overtime games this year, I guess.