Flyers Don’t Hold Intensity, Fall in Overtime to Flames
Nov 8, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras (46) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The Flyers wasted yet another strong performance in goal and collapsed late. They failed to find their intensity, falling in overtime 4-3 in another disappointing loss to the Calgary Flames in their last trip to the Scotiabank Saddledome. Philadelphia has dropped its first two games of a five-game road trip, and has lost three straight.
The Flyers didn’t wait long to get the scoring started, with Denver Barkey taking a pass from Sean Couturier and depositing it past Devin Cooley for the lead in the first. The Flames tied it shortly after when Zayne Parekh snapped a shot past Daniel Vladar after a great lead pass from Yan Kuznetsov.
In the second, the pace of play picked up, and Noel Acciari started an odd-man rush. After a bit of cycling the puck, Nick Seeler took a shot on goal, and Acciari redirected the puck past Cooley to take the lead 2-1. The Flames answered with a wrist shot from Zach Whitecloud from the point that crossed up Vladar to tie the game at two. As the period wound down, on the power play, Owen Tippett kept going in front of Cooley and, on a turnaround shot from the slot, got the shot in the back of the net for another power play goal for an improving Flyers man-advantage, taking a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
In the third period, with the Flyers on a power play, a bad pass at the red line was jumped by Martin Pospisil, who got the puck ahead to a streaking Joel Farabee on a breakaway, and Vladar had no chance, tying the game at three and sending the game to overtime.
The Flyers weren’t able to get sustained pressure on Cooley in the extra period, leading to a collision in the crease, taking out two Flyers and leaving Tippett on a three-on-one, with Matt Coronato outmatching Vladar at 4:08 in overtime.
Flyers Power Play Takes a Step Forward and One Step Back
The Flyers power play has been much improved this season, though it’s not hard to do when you’ve been last in the NHL for the previous four of the last five seasons. Despite the Flyers’ up-and-down play over the last ten games, they have gone from dead last on the power play up to No. 27 and are continuing to improve.
On the Tippett goal, they proved that there is solid improvement, not just strategy, but in effort. The second group has stepped it up to join the first pairing in their success.
As this group started to look like they were gelling, they made a huge mistake in the third period as a lazy pass at the top of the zone was intercepted by Martin Pospisil, who read the passing lane and intercepted it with ease.
Because the Flyers were overcommitted to getting into position for cycling the puck, the Flames got a breakaway and tied the game, hanging Vladar to dry once again.
Flyers Fail to Hold Another Late Lead
For the second straight game on this road trip, the Flyers collapsed in the third and failed ot close out regulation with a lead.
Sunday nigth was very similar to Thursday’s in Manhattan to the Rangers, taking a lead into the third period, and played the game not to lose, instead of being aggressive and pushing the pace in the third. Vladar stood on his head for the Flyers to even get to overtime.
The fact that the Flyers can’t close out games is clearly in their head at this point. This is where the leadership needs to step up, not just those that wear sweaters, but the coaches need to address this, too.
There weren’t many big changes roster-wise this offseason, but they look like all of the confidence that they built in overtime games last season is all but gone.
The team’s body language seemed very defeated as the game wore down. The swagger and grit they showed late last season during their run doesn’t seem to leave the dressing room with them after the second intermission.
Flyers Waste Another Masterful Vladar Effort
What made Vladar so impressive last season was that the Flyers didn’t give up uneven rushes, and never put Vladar in near impossinle positions like he has been this season.
Both he and Joseph Woll have played very well, but the Flyers’ defensemen in front of them have not given them a chance to shine. Vladar continues to make acrobatic saves, as he did Sunday night to keep maintain a point for the Flyers, but the number of times he has been put in a a bad situation this season is alarming.
The drop off in aggressiveness late in games is the real cause for the losses in three of the last four games, which has slammed the brakes on all positive changes that they made after their historic bad start.
The way the Flyers have played in these last two games in the third period is a lack of focus and intensity. They aren’t a solid enough team right now to come back from adversity, and in overtime, they are even more disjointed. The way they play in overtime is just like the third: tentative and like they’re trying to not lose.
The Flyers have a short turnaround playing against Tocchet’s former team, the Vancouver Canucks Mondsay night.
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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