For the first time since 2020, the Philadelphia Flyers are heading to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Let’s wrap:
Weathering the Surge
Despite resting several key players, the Carolina Hurricanes came to play Monday night. At the 8:41 mark of the first period, Bradley Nadeau beat Dan Vladar glove-side off the rush in the slot to give Carolina the 1-0 lead. Then, at the 15:30 mark, the Hurricanes would add another tally, this time on the powerplay after a Christian Dvorak holding penalty. It was a bit of bad bounce, as Logan Stankhoven looked to set a play in the slot, but the puck hit Travis Sanheim’s skate and found Ehlers.
“I don’t want to say bad bounces, but you know, we’re kind of like, I didn’t even know what happened,” Dan Vladar said. “I obviously wasn’t happy with those goals, but you know, I had the confidence in the group in front of us. If you were going to play the right way, we can come back to the game and that’s what we did.”
At times, the Flyers appeared to struggle with Carolina’s relentless puck pursuit and pressure, a hallmark of the Rod Brind’Amour led Hurricanes.
“Carolina has a style of high flips and getting the puck in,” Trevor Zegras said. “You just have to stick with the game plan and score when you get the chances.”
Thankfully for the orange and black, that’s exactly what would happened next.
The M&M Boys
The Flyers came alive in the second period. At the 7:57 mark of the middle frame, Denver Barkey zipped a beautiful cross-seam pass to Matvei Michkov, who then shot the puck against the grain to catch goaltender Brandon Bussi leaning to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Later, at the 10:30 mark, the orange and black would strike again, but this time on the powerplay. Porter Martone would rifle a pass across the goalmouth to Trevor Zegras, who then would wait for an ever slight opening and shot the puck pass Bussi to tie the game.
The game
Stanley Cup Playoffs Loading
With Tyson Foerster’s shootout goal and Vladar’s big save in the win, the Flyers are heading to the postseason or the first time since 2020. If your recall, that season’s playoff took place in the bubble, where the Flyers were eliminated in seven games by the New York Islanders. Just three players remain from that 2020 team; Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim and captain Sean Couturier. For them, this drought must’ve felt like an eternity, as it has for the fans. The reaction above said it all.
“They’ve been fighting hard for years now,” Tyson Foerster said. We’re lucky enough to get there, we’ve been battling all year, the fans have been great. You know, these guys have battled so hard this year so it’s awesome to see.”
This will be the first time since 2018 that the Flyers will appear in the playoffs in front of their fans. Ironically, Philadelphia fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games that year. The Flyers opponent in their first post-season appearance since then this season? None other than Sidney Crosby and company.
The more things change, the more things stay the same, I suppose. The Battle of Pennsylvania is back.
They Said It
Matvei Michkov on facing the Penguins in the first round: “Good team. A lot of experienced players. We’re not playing hockey in our first year either. It’s my first time playing playoffs in the NHL, so I’ll give all my best to it.”
Vladar on his heavy workload in the second half of the season: “For me, it was getting ready for every single game and leaving everything I had out there.”
Zegras on the fans reaction: “The fans were unbelievable tonight. Like, that was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen and the reaction when Forrie scored in the shootout, I’ll never forget that. “
Did You Know?
Trevor Zegras’ game tying goal in the second period was his 26th of the season. According to NHL stats, the only Flyers with more in their first season with the club over the last 30 years are Mike Knuble (34 in 05-06), Danny Briere (31 in 07-08 and Wayne Simmonds (28 in 11-12).
On Deck
Quick turnaround for the Flyers as they return to action on Tuesday night in the season finale against the Montreal Canadians. Puckdrop is set for 7:00 p.m. and will broadcast locally on NBCSP.
