Flyers beat the Blackhawks 3-1 in a bright display at the United Center, setting a cheerful tone for the holiday break.
Game Recap
The Flyers opened the scoring with a pass from Travis Konecny to Noah Cates, giving the team a 2-0 advantage after Konecny’s 300th career assist. A late goal by Ryan Donato trimmed the lead to 2-1, but the Flyers held on. Carl Grundstrom capped the win with an empty-netter, sealing a 3-1 victory.
Key Players and Highlights
Travis Konecny finished with a goal and an assist, while Sean Couturier added two assists. Samuel Ersson made 20 saves on 21 shots, ending a 0-2-2 stretch from his previous four outings. Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight stopped 23 of the Flyers’ 25 shots.
Standings and Season Context
Philadelphia sits at 19-10-7, having earned at least a point in 19 of its last 24 games (13-5-6). The Flyers hold the Eastern Conference’s second-best points percentage (.625), just behind the Hurricanes (.653). They trail Carolina by two points in the Metropolitan Division.
Player Absences and Injuries
Travis Sanheim left the game after an interference incident with Alex Vlasic and did not return; his status will be evaluated over the weekend. Denver Barkey missed the third period after being jumped by Blackhawks players following a boarding penalty on Wyatt Kaiser. Sanheim had been bloodied in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Rangers three days earlier.
Upcoming Schedule
After the holiday break, which runs Wednesday through Friday, the Flyers resume play on Sunday when they visit the Kraken at 8 p.m. ET.
Key Takeaways
- Flyers secure a 3-1 win over the Blackhawks, with Konecny, Cates, and Grundstrom scoring.
- The team remains strong in the standings, holding the second-best points percentage in the East.
- Key injuries and absences, including Sanheim and Barkey, will be monitored before the next game.
The victory signals a positive momentum heading into the holiday break and sets the stage for the Flyers’ return to action against the Kraken.
