If the Philadelphia Flyers (26-26-7) are to pursue an Eastern Conference Wildcard berth, they must regularly beat teams in the bottom half of the NHL standings.
Last night, the Flyers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins (23-28-9), 6-1. It’s the second time Philadelphia scored six since returning from the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, and the result gives them the advantage in the 2024-2025 chapter of the ‘Battle of Pennsylvania.’ The Penguins host on Thursday at 7:30pm/ET.
Sam Ersson went head-to-head with another different Pittsburgh goaltender. Alex Nedeljkovic occupied the crease for the Penguins. Earlier this season, Ersson faced Tristan Jarry and Joel Blomqvist. Here’s all that happened in the Flyers’ win at the Wells Fargo Center last night:
First Period
Shots: 15-6, Flyers
Score: 2-0, Flyers
Rasmus Ristolainen began the scoring for Philadelphia. He accepted a point pass from Egor Zamula, driving a one-timer through Nedeljkovic’s five-hole, 1-0, with 16:04 remaining in the first period. Matvei Michkov notched a secondary assist on the scoring play, continuing the momentum from his line with Sean Couturier and Owen Tippett from the weekend win versus the Edmonton Oilers.
Anthony Beauvillier served a minor penalty for high sticking. Noah Cates, Bobby Brink, and Jamie Drysdale began to buzz on the powerplay, but the Flyers couldn’t convert. Philadelphia finished 0/3 (0%) on the powerplay. Pittsburgh lacked discipline, putting them behind the pace for the rest of the game. The Penguins trailed for the entirety of this duel.
“Just rove. He [Drysdale] won’t last in the National Hockey League if he thinks he’s got to be a defensive defenseman and just defend. He’s improved. He’s seeing the ice a little bit better, but it’s a great indication of his play as how he’s thinking aggressively. He shoots one wide, gets the puck, moves it fast, and stays in the play. It’s encouraging. It’s still inconsistent, but it’s encouraging that it’s there with him.” – John Tortorella; 2/25/2025
Cates extended the Flyers’ lead. Jakob Pelletier chipped the puck to Brink in the neutral zone for the offensive entry. Brink passed to Cates, who ripped a wrist shot, 2-0, with 7:41 remaining in the first period. Pelletier notched his first point in Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh hardly challenged the Flyers’ transition and offensive entries. Philadelphia started hot despite trailing in the faceoff circle, never converting on the powerplay, and turning the puck over at an equal pace with the Penguins. Hard checking separated the winning team from the losers.
“We were on our toes. We were on top of them. We checked forward really well tonight.” – John Tortorella; 2/25/2025
Second Period
Shots: 29-16, Flyers
Score: 5-1, Flyers
Philip Tomasino scored the lone goal for Pittsburgh. Michael Bunting flipped a pass to Tomasino in stride. Tomasino beat Andrei Kuzmenko, then finished backhand on Ersson, 2-1, with 13:51 remaining in the second period. The thought of a shutout bid hadn’t developed, but Tomasino did spoil the deed for Ersson.
Garnet Hathaway served a minor penalty for interference. The Penguins powerplay ranks 8th (24.4%) in the NHL. Kris Letang hit the post, but Travis Sanheim and Ryan Poehling cleared the defensive zone. The Flyers finished 2/2 (100%) on the penalty kill.
Tyson Foerster regained a two-goal lead for Philadelphia. Drysdale buzzed during this sequence. Moments before earning an assist, Drysdale missed a shot from the slot. Instead of shooting the puck, he located Foerster at the faceoff dot for a wrist shot, 3-1, with 8:05 remaining in the second period. Foerster, Cates, and Brink all had points in this game by this point.
Cates scored his second of the game, putting himself on the hat trick alert and providing the Flyers with a commanding three-goal lead. Foerster put the initial shot on goal, and Cates cleaned up the rebound, 4-1, with 1:05 remaining in the second period. Since returning from the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, Philadelphia is rolling two lines. John Tortorella found something worth sinking his teeth into with Tippett, Couturier, and Michkov. Foerster, Cates, and Brink producing at a high level is encouraging as the team approaches the final quarter of the 2024-2025 NHL regular season.
Brink added another to the Flyers’ total. Cates centered a pass through the crease, and Brink scored on a deflection, 5-1, with 0:55 remaining in the second period. Philadelphia closed the second period with two goals scored in 10 seconds.
Third Period
Shots: 38-24, Flyers
Score: 6-1, Flyers
Mike Sullivan did not pull Nedeljkovic.
Tippett added insult to injury, putting the Flyers ahead by a handful. Couturier and Michkov got in on the tic-tac-toe passing to open the shot for Tippett on Nedeljkovic, 6-1, with 13:54 remaining in regulation. By this point, Pittsburgh practically conceded.
Philadelphia scored a touchdown for the second time since the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 57. Now, they’re five points out of an Eastern Conference Wildcard berth.
Up Next
Next, the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Pittsburgh Penguins at the PPG Paints Arena tomorrow at 7:30pm/ET.
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