Back-to-Back Recap

While Flyers prospects take on the World Juniors, let’s take a look at the Flyers’ back-to-back series going into Christmas break. 

Monday Night: 5-2 Win Against Vancouver

The Flyers put on their holiday spectacular with a certainly spectacular victory over Vancouver. Despite both teams earning no points in the first period, the Flyers were the dominant team all around, with plenty of help from their fourth line. They maintained possession of the puck throughout the period and prevented Vancouver from running away with the game early on, a key point in many of the Flyers’ losses this year.

Nikita Grebenkin earned his first of two points of the evening midway through the second period, being the only one to close on the Flyers’ 28 shots throughout the first two periods. Although the Flyers were able to maintain a lead in the second, Vancouver started to keep up with them. Yet despite looking tired coming into the third as this team often has, they kept the momentum going and earned 4 goals in the third.

For Grebenkin’s second point of the night and first multi-point game of the season, he earned an assist on Carl Grundstrum’s goal early in the third period. After an initial shot from Grebenkin, Grundstrum gave it a shot and was able to pot one on his own rebound to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead. In another short burst, both Zegras and Konecny were able to earn their 21st assists of the year. After Zegras acquired the puck from Konecny, his backhand shot deflected off of Demko’s blocker, and Dvorak was able to bat it out of the air as the puck rebounded off the glass to deepen the Flyers’ advantage 3-0. As rumors of extensions for Dvorak begin to appear, the line continues to thrive amongst him, Zegras, and Konecny. Zegras has had a wildly successful year, and brought out the best chemistry between himself, Dvorak, and Konecny. An extension for Dvorak would be a great addition to the team’s security after his short contract signed in the offseason. 

Vancouver’s Max Sasson was able to get a wrist shot past Dan Vladar for the Canucks’ first goal of the night, yet Owen Tippett was able to regain the 3-goal lead in an amazing breakaway in the neutral zone, a play of which went on to become an NHL goal of the week contender. Michkov went on to earn the Flyers their 5th and final goal of the night with less than two minutes to spare in the third period, with yet another empty net goal. This was the sophomore’s 9th goal of the season as he continues to regain his rookie traction after a slow start to the season. 

With 8 seconds left, Vancouver’s Drew O’Connor got a slapshot past Vladar, who had blocked 23 of 25 shots throughout 60 minutes of play. Despite another great performance from him, our bottom forwards of Grebenkin, Abols, and Grundstrum earned player of the game honors respectively as the Flyers broke Vancouver’s 5-game win streak in a physical, high-scoring win to close out the home games of 2025.

Tuesday Night: 3-1 Win Over Chicago

Zegras, Konecny, and Grundstrum continued to have successful performances for Tuesday’s 9:30pm puckdrop in Chicago. 

Zegras extended his point streak to 9 games, joining some impressive company as one of the longest point streaks in a players’ first year with the team. He gave Travis Konecny yet another nifty feed for Konecny’s 11th goal of the season. Zegras sent the puck across the front of the net for Konecny to bury it, a great play displaying Zegras’ awareness of the play and his chemistry with Konecny. For the second game in a row, the Flyers played a dominant first period. 

Travis Konecny earned his second point of the night as he and Jamie Drysdale each earned assist points on Noah Cates’ second period goal. As Chicago was serving a minor penalty for too many men on the ice, Drysdale was able to pass it to Konecny in front of the net. Despite Konecny being controlled by a Chicago defenseman, he was able to get the puck between his legs towards the net, allowing Cates to close on the play and give the Flyers a 2-0 lead. 

Of 10 shots in the second period, Chicago was only able to earn one goal, their only of the night. Ryan Donato kept possession and moved into the slot, throwing Sam Ersson off and getting a wrist shot past him

Despite letting the previous 5 losses for Chicago get into Philadelphia’s head, they kept momentum going through the third period. Despite only one empty net goal from Grundstrum deep in the third, the Flyers continued to be the dominant team. For once, they actually performed the way they should as a top-10 team playing a bottom-4 team. 

It was a very successful back-to-back series for the Flyers, one of the best appearances of the year, giving the Flyers a promising 4 points heading into the holidays.