The Philadelphia Flyers were down and out in the standings, so maybe it was fitting that they appeared to be down and out of the biggest game at Xfinity Mobile Arena in eight years. Despite coming out with plenty of energy, a quick defensive breakdown at 5-on-5 and a power-play goal against the voluntarily depleted Carolina Hurricanes at the end of the first period.
Flyers fans would be forgiven if worst-case scenarios ran through their heads. Even after a lopsided win on Saturday, even after a 12-4-1 run to lead them back into the race out of nowhere, the scars from six years without the playoffs and eight years without Stanley Cup Playoff action in their building ran deep.
But now, they can finally start to heal. The Flyers rallied with two goals in the second and, just like in their most memorable playoff clincher 16 years ago, secured their spot with a shootout victory. A jam-packed crowd erupted when Dan Vladař turned away Alexander Nikishin in the bottom of the fourth round after Tyson Foerster lit the lamp moments earlier.
The Flyers are in for good. They are in third place in the Metropolitian Division and will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, beginning this weekend. There will be plenty to analyze ahead of that exhilarating matchup. Right now, though, it’s time for the organization and the fanbase to celebrate.
Down But Never Out
Philadelphia was quite unlucky to fall into an early hole, something they have done a much better job of avoiding lately to get back in the playoff hunt. They took the first five shots of the game, generating high-quality looks off the rush and cycle from each of their top three lines. The opening goal by Bradly Nadeau didn’t seem to deter them much, but a power-play marker by Nikolaj Ehlers a few minutes later understandably took some wind out of the building.
They didn’t exactly come back from the first intermission rejuvenated, either. It took 7:57 into the second period for them to register their first shot on goal, but they sure made it count. Denver Barkey spotted Matvei Michkov with a beautiful cross-ice pass, and Michkov went against the grain for his second goal in as many games, getting the Flyers on the board.
Like Carolina, the Flyers also didn’t let a man-advantage pass them by shortly thereafter. Porter Martone maintained his point-per-game pace with a lightning-quick, cross-ice feed to Trevor Zegras, who outwaited Brandon Bussi and slid the puck in to even the score just 2:33 after Michkov’s tally.
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Even with Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal, Shayne Gostisbehere and Jaccob Slavin out of the lineup, Rod Brind’Amour’s team had its trademark aggressive forecheck and tenacity along the boards rolling for a lot of the game. They tested Vladař numerous times in the third period and nearly won it in overtime when Logan Stankoven hit the post cutting across the slot.
“I have no words,” said Vladař moments after the win was sealed. “We just proved everybody wrong, and I’m so proud of the guys that played in front of me.”
The Flyers had some great chances at 3-on-3, but Zegras and Michkov were unable to add a second goal on clean looks. Neither scored in the shootout either, a rarity for a Flyers team that has finally figured out the skills contest after years of befuddlement.
But Vladař picked Travis Konecny and them up by staying with each of Carolina’s shooters. Foerster, who missed four months due to injury, only to return surprisingly and immediately come back to form with four goals in eight games, was the only Flyer to elevate the puck. His wrist shot high to the glove side of the right-catching Bussi was all the offense the team needed.
A Lasting Impact
One game, one win and even one playoff berth doesn’t guarantee anything for the future. But the scene that unfolded after the final save on Monday night is what Daniel Brière and Flyers management envisioned when they charted course on this rebuild, especially given their decision not to strip the team to the studs three years ago.
There were emotional hugs on the ice from everyone, especially Sean Couturier and Konecny at the end of the handshake line, a fitting embrace for the two Flyers who have been here the longest. There was Vladař, who allowed two goals on the first four shots he faced before stopping 25 in a row (29 counting the shootout), rock solid as ever to justify Rick Tocchet’s decision to start him rather than resting him in case Tuesday’s season finale held meaning if the Flyers didn’t win this game.
Sometimes, a coaching staff will try to act poised after a big victory. Not Tocchet and company, who embraced just as tightly as the players as the final horn sounded. Rasmus Ristolainen, who has played more games (820) than any active NHLer without reaching the playoffs, was one of the last to the celebratory circle that formed in the crease around Vladař – better late than never.
It wasn’t a perfect game for the Flyers, nor a perfect season. But that wasn’t the point for the 2025-26 team. The Flyers believe that by getting their young players in these big games sooner rather than later, they’d expedite their development by allowing them to ingrain playoff hockey in their systems while still learning the ropes of the NHL.
Fifteen players on Philadelphia’s active roster have never been in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vladař has backed up in the playoffs but never started a game there. Now, most, if not all of them, will have that opportunity.
“Our return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs comes down to two things: the grit and determination of our players and the unwavering commitment of our fans, and I couldn’t be prouder,” said team governor Daniel Hilferty in a post-game statement. “We began this New Era of Orange with the goal of building this team the right way, and regardless of what happens in the weeks or months ahead, this milestone shows that Keith, Danny, and Coach Tocchet are moving us in the right direction.”
It would’ve been fine if that had come in a series where the Flyers were completely overmatched on paper, like they would’ve been if they’d qualified two years ago and met the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers. Failure is a powerful teacher in itself. But they should be more empowered by what is a difficult but not lopsided matchup with the Penguins.
This isn’t the Penguins team that won the last playoff game in this building on April 20, 2018, when Jake Guentzel scored four consecutive goals to lead the Penguins to their ninth straight playoff series. Of course, they are still a Penguins team with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, and that is always an imposing matchup. But it’s one that the Flyers have a chance to hold their own in.
What’s Next
Oh yeah, there’s still one more game to go. Fortunately for them, the Flyers can take it easy on Tuesday night and give some of their regulars a rest against the Montréal Canadiens. The Canadiens are still competing for home ice in their first-round series with the Tampa Bay Lightning, so they’ll have an incentive to give it their all as both teams conclude their regular seasons.
After that, it’s uncharted territory for about 60 percent of this Flyers group. The Flyers will be the road team in the first round, so they’ll head to PPG Paints Arena over the weekend to begin their opening series. Just as importantly, they’ll be back home next week, ready to remind Philadelphia of how good playoff hockey feels.
