Flyers vs. Oilers: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Bill Meltzer’s Flyers blog on Hockey Hot Stove is brought to you by Phans of Philly, by Lights On Electric, by New Balance of Mount Laurel, and by Cover All Exteriors.

Rick Tocchet’s Philadelphia Flyers (8-5-3) went 0-0-2 on their short homestand. On Wednesday, they accomplished half of what they wanted. They defended quite well for the most part — the 32-21 shot differential was deceptive in terms of shot quality. However, they also went long stretches with very little attack. When they did, they missed the net 13 times including on several of their better looks.

In the end, the Flyers sustained a 2-1 overtime loss. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly from Wednesday evening.

The Good

• The Flyers held Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to a combined one point (McDavid first period assist) and one shot on goal (McDavid in the latter part of the third period). Any time a team does that, they’re doing something right defensively.
• Philly’s layered defensive system is working. Edmonton had trouble navigating Philadelphia’s 1-2-2 in the neutral zone. In the end zone, the Flyers mostly bottled up the Oilers to the perimeter. Final all-situation scoring chances were 26-25 Flyers (11-11 high danger) against a lethal opponent.
• Matvei Michkov’s downhill power play tally was a nice goal though an Owen Tippett screen. Cam York and Travis Konecny drew the assists.
• When Edmonton did break through and the Flyers needed a clutch saves, Dan Vladar (30 stops on 32 shots) stepped up. The Czech netminder has been excellent for the most part this season.
• The first 10 minutes of the game and most of the third period were well-played by Philly from a process standpoint.
• Konecny’s would-be winning goal late in regulation was a nice re-direct from the slot off a Travis Sanheim shot. Too bad the play was offside on the entry and got wiped out on Situation Room review.
• Philly won the special teams battle: 1-for-3 on the power play, 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.

The Flyers have become a very good defensive team under Rick Tocchet and his staff. Tonight, they held McDavid and Draisaitl to a combined one shot on goal and one point (McDavid assist). Entering tonight No. 1 in NHL in fewest odd-man rushes allowed and No. 1 in fewest XGA off…

— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) November 13, 2025

The Bad

• The latter half the first period and first 12+ minutes of the second period saw virtually no attack from the Flyers. Bend-don’t-break is necessary sometimes but at least some offensive push is needed along the way.
• The Flyers lost 21 of 29 faceoffs. Sean Couturier went an uncharacteristic 3-for-11.Rodrigo Abols was 0-for-4. Noah Cates went 3-for-9.
• Early in the second period, with the puck along the defensive half-boards, Konecny inexplicably put the puck back below the goal line with no teammate in the vicinity. The play wasn’t costly but it was a gifted turnover.

The Ugly

• The late third-period offside ruling, although the correct call, was a tough pill to swallow. It’s the third time already this season the Flyers have had a would-be winning goal late in regulation or OT overturned.
• The 20+ minute stretch of the game where there was virtually zero offensive push from Philly brought boos from the 18,480 spectators in the stands.
• Philly needed to do a bit more on their third power play in a 1-1 tie with five-plus minutes left in regulation.

Tocchet’s Take