The Philadelphia Flyers were unable to keep pace with the Vegas Golden Knights, losing 3-2 in overtime at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday night.
Game Recap
The match stayed tight until the final minutes. Trevor Zegras and Noah Juulsen each scored game‑tying goals, keeping the Flyers in the hunt. Despite the late comeback, the Flyers never took the lead. Vegas capitalized on a turnover by Travis Konecny, eight seconds later giving Mark Stone a power‑play goal that forced the game into overtime.
In the sudden‑death period, Stone netted the winner, handing the Golden Knights a 3-2 victory. The Flyers’ effort was highlighted by a solid goaltending performance from Akira Schmid, who stopped 17 of 19 shots.
Power‑Play Struggles
The Flyers’ power‑play unit was a focal point of the loss. With under five minutes left in the third period, the team was unable to convert a chance that could have tied the game. “We had a good game, I don’t want to get negative, but the power play, we’re not getting any middle shots,” the Flyers’ head coach Rick Tocchet said. “We’ve got to get a middle shot.”
Tocchet also reflected on the turnovers that led to the Golden Knights’ goal: “He probably feels bad,” Tocchet said. “You can’t make those turnovers.”
Key Player Highlights
- Mark Stone – OT winner for Vegas
- Trevor Zegras – 11th goal of the season, first with the Flyers
- Noah Juulsen – First goal for the Flyers, tied 2-2 in the second period
- Christian Dvorak – 21 points in 29 games, two assists in this match
- Dan Vladar – 27‑year‑old goaltender, praised for his performance
Christian Dvorak’s offensive‑zone turnover early in the first period set the stage for Zach Whitecloud’s transition goal, giving Vegas a 1-0 lead. Dvorak later commented on the game: “It was a good test for us, they’re a really good hockey team over there,” Dvorak said. “I thought we competed well, it was a pretty even game for the most part. We were right there the whole game, it goes to OT, anything can happen.”
Coaching and Management Reactions
Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet emphasized the need for better power‑play execution, while Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy praised his team’s resilience: “He’s doing a great job,” Cassidy said. “I knew he would. He did that in Vancouver. He’s building an identity I think here with the Flyers. He was part of an identity here years ago and I think he’d like to sort of reestablish that.”
Flyers general manager Danny Briere expressed confidence in the offseason additions after the loss. “Despite the loss, general manager Danny Briere had to feel good about his offseason additions after this one,” the article noted.
Goaltender Dan Vladar, who returned to Philadelphia with the Golden Knights, shared his perspective on the team’s performance: “I’m proud of the team here, I thought there was that hunger and the belief that we’ve been talking about the whole year,” Vladar said. “I felt it during the intermissions and stuff, guys were positive on the bench. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough, but if we keep playing this way, I’m pretty sure we’re going to have more and more success.”
Player Availability and Future Outlook
The Flyers will finish their six‑game homestand Saturday, facing the Hurricanes at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSP. The team also looks ahead to a rematch with the Golden Knights on Jan. 19 in Las Vegas.
Defenceman Cam York missed a third straight game due to an upper‑body injury, while Rasmus Ristolainen is close to a season debut before the Dec. 24‑26 NHL holiday break. Tocchet commented on their readiness: “He’s going to have a really hard practice today, a lot of pushing and shoving on the ice and see how he reacts off it,” Tocchet said Thursday morning. “I think this is the day we’ll know how close he is to playing.”
Regarding Ristolainen, Tocchet added: “I’d be shocked if he hadn’t played before Christmas, to be honest with you.”
The Flyers’ goaltending situation remains unchanged, with former Flyers netminder Carter Hart now with the Golden Knights. Hart, 27, is backing up Akira Schmid and is three games into his new opportunity with Vegas after being found not guilty in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial.
Key Takeaways
- Flyers lost 3‑2 in overtime to Vegas, with Mark Stone scoring the winner.
- Power‑play failures and turnovers were pivotal to the outcome.
- Flyers remain 16‑9‑4, dropping to 2‑2‑1 on a six‑game homestand.
The game underscored the Flyers’ need for tighter power‑play execution while highlighting the Golden Knights’ ability to capitalize on critical moments. Both teams will look to adjust as they head into the next stretch of the season.
