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The Philadelphia Flyers (7-5-1) earned their first road win of the 2025-26 on Tuesday night. In the polar opposite of Sunday’s low-event (and dreadfully dull) 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, the Flyers captured a 5-4 (1-0) shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens. It was a highly entertaining, albeit frustrating at times, night that ended up with a good outcome.
Bobby Brink scored twice (4th and 5th goals of the season). Cam York (1st) also tallied in the first period. Later, Nikita Grebenkin (1st NHL goal) forced OT in the third period. Trevor Zegras (two assists in regulation) notched the lone shootout goal.
Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from Tuesday’s wild win.
The Good
- The Flyers players focused all not on attacking the net and having a shooting mentality. That was even true in the otherwise disastrous second period (a 3-0 lead became a 4-3 deficit). The Flyers also turned three of their first six shots on net into goals.
- It’s hard to fathom a more dominant period by the Flyers than what they did in the first period. The frame saw Philly generate a 12-2 edge in shots, a 12-3 edge in all-situation scoring chances, and a 5-1 edge in high-danger chances. Most importantly, the Flyers took a 3-0 lead to intermisson.
- It’s been a while since the Flyers scored on a 5-on-3 power play and then scored again at 5-on-4. Zegras set up both goals.
- Even in the second period, the general process was what Rick Tocchet wanted: 17-9 shot edge, 19 scoring chances (although the 11 allowed proved costly) and an 11-4 high-danger chance edge.
- The Flyers played a resilient third period and more or less shut down Montreal for long stretches.
- Athough neither Owen Tippett nor Matvei Michkov got on the scoresheet, both made several good offensive plays.
The bad
- The early second period carom goal by Kirby Dach was a harbinger of the Montreal scoring binge to come. Marginal penalties or not, the Flyers put the Habs on the man advantage at inopportune times. Sure enough, the big early lead evaporated. A 3-0 lead became a 4-3 deficit.
- Sam Montembeault settled in after the first period (although save of his saves were adventures). Meanwhile, Flyers goalie Dan Vladar had a rough second period both in terms of stopping and handling the puck. Vladar bounced back in the shootout. Overall, though, Montreal got the better goaltending and timelier saves. This was a team win more than a goaltending win.
- The Flyers streak of 22 straight successful penalty kills came to an end. Ultimately, the special teams canceled out on this night.
The Ugly
- The Flyers had a very rough night on faceoffs (20-for-58, 34 percent). Cates in particular (3-for-14 struggled on draws).
- It’s a positive that the Flyers now have seven points — including three wins — from games where they went into the third period trailing. Nevetherless, any time a three-goal lead evaporates and a team coughs up four goals in a period, it’s ugly.
Up next for the Flyers
Philly completes their season series with the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Last Thursday in Philadelphia, the Flyers didn’t play particularly well. Nevertheless, Philly emerged with a 4-1 win.
