Flyers Hand Kraken First Regulation Loss With 5 Goal Burst
Oct 20, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers teammates celebrate after a goal from right wing Tyson Foerster (71) against the Seattle Kraken in the second period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The Flyers punched first and never let go.
Seattle opened the scoring early, but Philly answered just as fast and never looked back. Owen Tippett tied it in the first, Tyson Foerster buried a power-play goal to take the lead, and Travis Konecny added another to start the second. Tippett and Foerster each scored again before the period was over, which I’m sure made the second intermission more comfortable.
The offense erupted with the power play coming through strong, giving the Flyers two of their five goals and a 5-2 victory. Seattle came in without a regulation loss, but that streak ended in Philadelphia as the Flyers closed out a 3-1-0 homestand with the kind of win that sets a tone for an extended road trip.
This was the Flyers’ cleanest night of the season. They were fast but calculated, attacking with purpose instead of chaos. The puck moved in rhythm with quick exits, smart entries and clean cycles. They didn’t wait for moments in this game, they created them. Cam York drove possession and quarterbacked both power-play goals with precision while he was on the ice. Sean Couturier controlled pace in the faceoff circle. The result was constant pressure, hard checking and extended zone time that wore Seattle down shift after shift. You could see it as the game wore on, I’m sure the fact that the Flyers out-hit Seattle 30-18 had something to do with that.
The offense clicked because they played the right way, they peppered the net with shots all night, supported each other on the forecheck, and kept traffic in front of Joey Daccord, never letting him have clear in front of him. So much so that he was pulled after 2. The shot count was 27-23 Flyers, but the quality gap in shot selection was stark. The Flyers cashed in twice on four power plays, while Seattle went just 1-for-6.
That changes the look and complexity of the game against quality opponents. They didn’t just shoot more, they shot smarter. York opened lanes with head fakes, Tippett used his speed to pull defenders wide and release quickly and Foerster found soft spots in coverage and finished plays in motion. Every play was finished with a level of detail that shows that this team is starting to buy in to Rick Tocchet‘s system.
You could feel the difference in the structure; the forwards tracked back hard, the defensemen stepped up on time and cleared rebounds with extreme efficiency. Dan Vladar made quiet saves and managed the crease as if he’s in midseason form. It was energy without recklessness, the kind of tempo that wins games late in the season, which is very encouraging to see in mid-October. Every decision, from puck retrieval to outlet passes, looked cleaner. This wasn’t survival hockey, like we had become accustomed to last season, it was a team that was calm in in control, even after giving up the first goal early on.
This was the Flyers’ first complete game of the year. Every aspect of the team showed up tonight, the offense finishing chances, the defense limiting mistakes and goaltending steady and confident. They didn’t need late-game drama or lucky breaks. They dictated from start to finish. Seattle arrived with an air of confidence, but the Flyers not only matched it, they imposed their own plan. That’s how a team looks when belief and structure finally come together, which looks like has.
The win capped a strong homestand and hinted at something bigger. The kids are growing with every shift, the veterans are steering the ship, special teams are coming together fast and the goaltending looks settled and calm — Vladar has been a breath of fresh air this season. Everything that’s been uneven through the first stretch came together for tonight, and it looked sustainable.
Ottawa is next, and if this version of the Flyers shows up again, they’ll have more than just momentum, they’ll have an identity. An identity that’s built on a rock-solid game plan, youthful exuberance and just the right amount of veteran leadership. The rest of the league is taking notice, because the way this team is winning isn’t lucky bounces or one person doing it all, this Flyers squad believes not just in the system, but each other. It’s great to see the team coming together so quickly, so completely.
Steve Hamilton
Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible, we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.
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