NHL: Flyers top Panthers in Berube's debut

Philadelphia • Grim faced, hands on his hips, Craig Berube looked like the angriest man in Philadelphia.

The coach the Flyers call "Chief" could afford to smile.

He won his debut — and helped the Flyers avoid their first 0-4 start in franchise history.

Brayden Schenn and Braydon Coburn scored goals, and Steve Mason had 33 saves to make Berube a winner, leading the Flyers past the Florida Panthers 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Berube was on the bench a day after Peter Laviolette was fired after a 0-3 start. Laviolette dealt with rumors of his firing last season, a year in which the Flyers missed the playoffs after the lockout-shortened season. Don't pop the bubbly for win No. 1.

"It's over," Berube said. "We're worried about tomorrow and practice."

With Berube calling the shots, the Flyers scored their season high for goals.

"We have to get better, we have to have more of an attack," Berube said. "I know we do have good offensive players here. It's just a matter of getting them confident."

Mason stopped all 12 shots in the first period and the first 12 of the second until Brad Boyes scored his first of the season with 6 seconds left.

Mason, who improved to 5-0 against Florida, came up big when he stopped Shawn Matthias on a short-handed breakaway early in the second.

"He just had an answer for all of our shots," Matthias said. "We have to get giddier and work on it."

Mason and Ray Emery worked as a tandem in net. Berube gave no indication if he would stick with Mason or use both.