From Written Off to the Playoffs: Flyers Clinch in Game That Perfectly Captured Their Season
Apr 13, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras (46) reacts after scoring a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The Flyers came into their game against the Carolina Hurricanes with the added weight of clinching their first playoff berth in five seasons. The ask was simple, even if the path never is against Carolina, win and you’re in, no help needed, no scoreboard watching, just handle a team that has controlled this matchup, they are 9-1-0 in the last 10 games. Even with Carolina not dressing their star players, this would not be an easy win, and it certainly lived up to that billing.
That is what made this clinching victory particularly sweet, because a few months ago, this game would have been a big hill to climb for the Flyers, particularly being down 2-0 in the first period. The difference showed up in the details; there was no panic in the Flyers in this game, where there would have been earlier in the season. This all starts in the crease. Daniel Vladar has been the team MVP this season, and it is fitting that the game ended on a pressure-packed save by Vladar.
“Nobody believed us,” Vladar said, leaving the ice. “We just proved everyone wrong.
“This is why we play hockey. Especially here, people are starving for it, and we are so proud to deliver them the experience.”
This sentiment was also echoed by Owen Tippett, who talked about the fans.
“This is ultimately what they wanted,” Tippett said postgame. “I had chills. That’s the loudest I’ve ever heard the building. Toward the end of the game, I couldn’t even hear anything. A lot of credit goes to them. They’ve stuck by our side and had our backs. I know it’s been a long time coming for them. They need to enjoy this. We’re gonna need them going down the stretch.”
On the other side of the shift sits Trevor Zegras, who has changed the feel of the season in a way that means more than just goals to tie huge games. He’s been the beating heart of this talented forward group all season. Zegras carried that edge again Monday night, tying the game in the second period.
“Yeah, it’s incredible,” Zegras said. “I haven’t really felt anything like it, and to do it kind of in that fashion, down early, versus a great team, to claw back in and then get it done in the shootout was pretty special.”
He added about the electric atmosphere.
“The fans were unbelievable [Monday night]. That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. The reaction when [Tyson Foerster] scored in the shootout. I’ll never forget that. The fans’ energy gave us a lot of momentum in the third period.”
It made sense that a game like this would not end cleanly because nothing about this season has, and when it stretched past regulation, the Flyers leaned into something that has quietly become one of their strengths, a calm approach in shootouts that reflects a group that thrives in big moments. There was no panic in the setup, no rushed decisions, just a team that looked like it expected to finish the job, and when Tyson Foerster stepped in and ended it, it felt less like a surprise and more like the natural endpoint of how this group has learned to handle pressure.
“We’ve been battling all year,” Foerster said after the game. “Like I said, the fans have been great. These guys have battled so hard this year, so it’s awesome to see.”
Foerster himself battled back from an injury to be a part of this playoff run, and he certainly was a huge part of this win for the Flyers.
A big part of this victory is on Rick Tocchet, for his hunch to put Foerster on the shootout, but also how he has shaped the identity of this team all season long.
“From training camp, you guys believed,” Tocchet said in his emotional address to the team after the game. “Nobody else believed but you. You guys deserve this, and we’re not done yet.”
For a team that was written off before the Olympic break, this is more than just another win. This game feels like the epitome of the season because it mirrors the path, not perfect, not dominant, but resilient, structured, and built on timely plays from the players who reshaped the season when it was on the brink of disaster. This was not stumbling into the playoffs or a collapse from someone else; this was earned in a game that demanded everything they had, and now they carry that grit and determination into the playoffs as a team that understands exactly who it is and has absolute belief in themselves.
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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