Flyers Take Opener

Canucks roster

"It's certainly not the kind of hockey we want to play all season," Desjardins said about the wide-open style. "The new rules change the game a little bit. You can't hold like you used to, so it's going to be a little open."

The Flyers started the new season without Eric Lindros, who rejected the team's $8.5 million qualifying offer in the offseason, and is a restricted free agent.

"Eric had been in and out of the lineup before. It's nothing new," said John LeClair.

The game marked the NHL debut for Vancouver's highly touted rookie twins, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who were hold off the scoresheet.

"We have to get better in a lot of areas," Vancouver coach Marc Crawford said. "We have to have a little bit more discipline in our game."

After Williams gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead, Matt Cooke and Peter Schaefer scored shorthanded goals in a 2:48 span for the Canucks.

Rookie Petr Hubacek tied the game in the second period. LeClair then gave the Flyers the lead before Markus Naslund, who followed Mark Messier as the Canucks' captain, tied the game at 3-3 on a breakaway.

Desjardins scored the game-winner with two seconds left in the second period, he added another goal in the final period and Daymond Langkow finished scoring with a empty-netter.