“The Philadelphia Flyers fell 3-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights in a tightly contested overtime match on Thursday night, with Mark Stone delivering the game-winning goal after a Travis Konecny turnover.
Overtime Loss
The decisive play occurred with 2:13 remaining in the five-minute OT period. Konecny attempted a pass that slipped through the hands of Sean Couturier and Emil Andrae, giving the Golden Knights a chance to capitalize. Mark Stone seized the opportunity and finished the play, securing the victory for Vegas.
Earlier in the period, Noah Cates earned an offensive-zone draw with 3:46 left, but the Flyers lost possession before regaining it later in the defensive zone. Despite the draw, the team could not maintain control, and the turnover proved costly.
Nine Flyers skaters were on the ice during the overtime shift, and the game highlighted the importance of puck management in the final minutes. The turnover by Konecny was a pivotal moment that shifted momentum toward the Golden Knights.
Coaching Insights
Rick Tocchet, the Flyers’ head coach, reflected on the game after the morning skate, saying, ”We’re trying to get possession, so usually you try to get the two centermen, but he was actually going to be up on the run, the next guy. Unfortunately, couldn’t get to him in time. But, yeah, he’s in the mix.”
Tocchet emphasized that overtime is about possession and skating, noting, ”Overtime’s about possession, skating, things like that, so that’s stuff we’ve got to work on.”
He also described the team’s overall approach, stating, ”Overtime’s about a lot of strategy. This year, we’ve mismanaged the puck. And that’s what happens in overtime, you can’t mismanage the puck.”
Tocchet highlighted shot selection, saying, ”Shot selection is big in overtime. Any time you’re in the middle of the ice in the slot, you’ve got to shoot it. But anything outside the dots, you can’t miss the net and you can’t have a bad pass.”
On defending, he added, ”Most overtimes, you tell them to hold onto the puck, regroup and do it again. I think we’re taking the first option all the time when it’s not there. Then you lose the puck, you give them the puck and then you have to defend. It’s tough to defend 3-on-3.”
Regarding Michkov, Tocchet noted that the player had been limited in overtime play, saying, ”With his knack for the big moment, Michkov should see the ice more in overtime. He’s too talented of a finisher and playmaker.”
He pointed out Michkov’s current overtime minutes, stating that he is 11th on the Flyers with 6:25 this season, compared to 21:23 minutes and third place last season, when he led the team with three overtime winners.
Flyers’ Overtime Record
The Flyers finish the season with a 16-9-4 overall record and are 2-4 in overtime games. They have entered the bonus period 11 times and have a perfect 5-0 record in shootouts.
The team’s performance in extra time highlights both strengths and areas for improvement, especially in puck management and shot selection during critical moments.
Key Takeaways
- Mark Stone’s goal capped a turnover-driven win for the Golden Knights in OT.
- The Flyers’ puck-management issues were exposed, with multiple turnovers in overtime.
- Rick Tocchet outlined a need to focus on possession, shot selection, and defensive strategy in future overtime contests.
The loss underscores the importance of disciplined play in the final minutes, and the Flyers will look to address these lessons as they continue their season.
