How the Flyers are Playing at their Best at the Right Time: ‘Everyone’s Playing for the Crest’
Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers leads teammates to the bench after celebrating his third period goal against the Winnipeg Jets at the Canada Life Centre on April 11, 2026 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
After Friday night’s victory over the Winnipeg Jets, the Philadelphia Flyers stayed two points over the Columbus Blue Jackets at 94 points for that third and final available spot in the playoff picture for the Eastern Conference.
The Blue Jackets, who are playing great hockey right now, remain behind another team that has been playing great during the home stretch: the Flyers. Flyers’ forward Noah Cates believes the culture of this team is at its highest at this point in the season, late in the playoff race.
“Everyone’s playing their best hockey,” Cates said Friday night. “Everyone’s playing for the crest.”
Cates, for example, has had his most productive season, as he has now found a way to add his great defense to his offensive game, shown by a shorthanded goal at the end of the second period after a successful penalty kill shift.
The Flyers are all playing together at the right time. It’s coming with an uptick in confidence and cohesiveness. It has them on the brink of a playoff clinch. All they need is two points over the next two games. They will punch their ticket with a win over Carolina at home Monday night.
“We just have that trust and that confidence in each guy in the room,” Cates said. “They’re big games, but we lean on each other. We just have that belief in this room that we can beat these good teams in big games.”
Not only have the Flyers benefited from Cates performing at his best, but other guys have peaked of late, including Christian Dvorak, who has picked up his offense at the end, resulting in his 300th career point Friday night. Travis Sanheim has also been his best, as his skating has peaked and his tally sets a new career high in a season at 11 goals.
A lot of Flyers have been at their best, but one of the most important guys you can get to peak at this point is the captain. Sean Couturier has been scoring more ever since the month of March, but Friday night really sealed the deal on what he is capable of. Friday night, Couturier scored two goals against USA gold medalist goaltender Connor Hellybuck, taking the clock back to 2018, where Coots brought his team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 33 goals and 43 assists for 76 points. If the Flyers needed to get this Couturier back, it was now.
COOOOOOOOTS!! pic.twitter.com/sTHu8961KG
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 12, 2026
Couturier, as of late, has found himself crashing the net, skating in on breakaways, and opening up the ice with his fourth line this month and in March. This is not just a result of the guys he’s been paired with, but it’s a result of Couturier’s battle back against his back issues and injuries in the past.
Earlier this season, and in the last two seasons, it had looked as if Couturier’s lower body and back were permanently shot for good, as his skating was not there. His career looked to begin a slow decline, but as the captain of the Flyers, he knew and openly stated that he’s not just back, but better, which is a big cause of this team’s success.
Not only is the physical side important for Couturier, but the leadership side has also been boosted. Couturier has been a great voice in the room and has been more than happy to work with the rookies, especially Porter Martone.
“All four lines were going, playing the right way,” Couturier said Friday. “The penalty kill stepped up after a rough night in Detroit; that was encouraging.”
It’s great that a lot of guys have found their game late in the year, and it’s excellent for Couturier to find rhythm and confidence. If the Flyers end up getting that third and final spot in the Metropolitan Division and set up to play the Penguins in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Couturier would be a big reason for that. The guys all play for the crest, and Couturier leads it.
“Just keep doing what we’re doing,” Couturier said on the message for the final two games on Monday and Tuesday at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. “Focus on the job. It’s not done yet. And don’t listen to the outside noise, to be honest. There’s still a lot of work to do.”
Luke Raidy
Luke has covering the the Flyers and Phillies for Philly Sports Reports since 2025. He is a junior at North Penn and being a huge Philly sports fan has brought so many experiences, such as going to the NLDS, NLCS, and even the World Series in 2022. He has also met former superstars in the city of Philadelphia, such as Wayne Simmonds from the Flyers. Though being a student-athlete, Luke enjoys his time where he is writing and reporting on Philadelphia sports.
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