The Philadelphia Flyers found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard again this weekend, losing both a high‑stakes skills competition and a shootout to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 3‑2 shootout loss at Lenovo Center on Sunday night was the second straight defeat in this format for the Flyers, who had been 5‑0 in shootouts before the Hurricanes snapped that streak.
Skills Competition Loss
The Flyers’ shootout magic disappeared on Sunday when they fell 3‑2 to the Hurricanes in the skills competition. Andrei Svechnikov was the only Flyers player to score, while Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak and Matvei Michkov finished empty‑handed.
Shootout Defeat at Xfinity Mobile Arena
Rick Tocchet’s club also lost in a shootout, 4‑3, on Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Carolina had taken a 2‑0 lead early, only for the Flyers to claw back, but the Hurricanes ultimately secured the win in the shootout.
Overtime Redemption
Against the backdrop of these losses, the Flyers still managed to earn a point on Sunday. The game went to overtime, and with 1:52 remaining in the third period the net was empty. Trevor Zegras tied the game on a feed from Travis Konecny, and Jamie Drysdale capped the comeback with a late goal.
Michkov’s Overtime Miss
For the second time in the last three games, Matvei Michkov was denied an overtime shift. Bobby Brink’s questionable tripping penalty in OT robbed the Flyers of a chance for Michkov to showcase his skills on the ice.
Current Record and Streaks
Philadelphia’s record now stands at 16‑9‑6, and the team has dropped three straight games for the first time this season. All three losses have come after regulation, and the last four defeats have been decided by a single goal.
Back‑to‑Back Series Record
Since last season, the Flyers have struggled in the second game of back‑to‑back sets, posting a 2‑12‑3 record. In their four‑game regular‑season series against the Hurricanes (21‑9‑2), the Flyers are 0‑0‑3. From the start of the 2021‑22 season, Philadelphia has lost 16 of the last 18 games against Carolina, a 2‑9‑7 record.
Power Play Woes and Player Returns
After missing the last four games with an upper‑body injury, Cam York returned to the lineup in place of Ty Murchison. In his normal top‑pair role, York drew two first‑period penalties, but the Flyers’ power play was ineffective, finishing the game 0‑4. Over the last 18 games, the power play has gone 5‑42, and two of the plays were shortened by penalties.
Goaltending and Scoring Highlights
Dan Vladar, the 28‑year‑old netminder, made 30 saves on 32 shots, keeping the Flyers in the game. In the second period, he stopped a 2‑on‑1 rush by Jackson Blake to maintain a 2‑1 deficit, and later denied K’Andre Miller on a breakaway after Zegras was stripped. William Carrier and Taylor Hall gave Carolina a 2‑0 lead before Drysdale’s goal helped the Flyers salvage an uneven first period. Philadelphia was outshot 14‑4 and committed three penalties. Hall’s goal came on the power play after Nikita Grebenkin was whistled for roughing. Carolina’s goalie Brandon Bussi stopped 24 of the Flyers’ 26 shots on the night.
Key Takeaways
- The Flyers lost both a skills competition and a shootout to the Hurricanes, ending a 5‑0 shootout streak.
- Overtime redemption came with a 1:52‑left tie from Zegras and a late goal from Drysdale.
- Power play has been ineffective, going 0‑4 in the latest game and 5‑42 over 18 games.
- Cam York returned from injury, but the Flyers’ special‑teams unit remains a concern.
Looking Ahead
The Flyers will return to action on Tuesday, heading to Montreal to face the Canadiens at 7 p.m. ET. With the Hurricanes not back until April 13, Philadelphia has an opportunity to regroup and address the power‑play deficiencies before the stretch run.
