Instant reactions: FOERSTER, VLADAR SHOOTOUT HEROICS SEND FLYERS TO PLAYOFFS

Sep 26, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Tyson Foerster (71) and right wing Matvei Michkov (39) celebrate win against the New York Islanders at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

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The Philadelphia Flyers need just two standings points in their final two games to find their way back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2019-20, and an opportunity to actually host postseason hockey for the first time since 2017-18.

It did not start well for Philly on the scoreboard, falling behind 2-0 after controlling much of the first half of the first, only for a light Carolina Hurricanes roster to take over and score the only two goals of the opening frame. But Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras gave the Orange & Black life in the second, tying the game and giving the Flyers a chance to beat the Hurricanes at the Xfinity Mobile Arena (et al.) for the first time in ten tries, having last defeated Rod Brind’Amour’s squad in Philadelphia back on March 5, 2020.

With a “win a period, make the playoffs” opportunity entering the third knotted at two, the Flyers looked gassed for a lot of the third, while also getting jobbed on two un-called blatant elbows. The Canes outshot Philly 9-8 in the third, but neither goalie surrendered, and for the 28th time through 81 games, we got overtime!

Scoreless through the five minutes of 3v3, despite a Michkov breakaway, the Flyers won a four-round shootout to punch their postseason ticket! Dan Vladar made all four stops, while Tyson Foerster, the Flyers’ fourth shooter, ripped the puck by Brandon Bussi for the skills competition’s only goal for the win.

PLAYOFFS HERE WE COME!

First period

Highlight: The Flyers registered the first four shots on goal of the game and were generating plenty of chances in the first ten minutes, but Carolina’s swarming attack, and red hot power play, have Philly in a 2-0 hole through the first twenty minutes of action. By the time the buzzer sounded, the Flyers maintained a 7-6 shot advantage, and attempts were 17 apiece, but the Canes absolutely took over after their first goal.

The Flyers’ penalty kill has been hot and cold all season, and they’ve been terrible since the start of March. With Nikolaj Ehlers’ power play goal, Philadelphia has now given up 19 PPGs in 21 1/3 games since the beginning of March, killing only 44 of 63 man-advantages they’ve faced. Only the San Jose Sharks (67.7%) have a worse PK-percentage than the Orange & Black (71% before tonight) since March 1. OOF!

What I want to see next period: Well, stay out of the box, for one. Dan Vladar came into the game tied with Igor Shesterkin and Anton Forsberg for the best 5v5 save-percentage in the NHL (.926). Vladdy’s 1.82 GAA at 5v5 is the best in the league. Give the guy a chance. Also, get back to the attack. I know Carolina is a fast, aggressive team, but this is not their A-team. Sebastian Aho, Shayne Gostisbehere, Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal Jacob Slavin and Andrei Svechnikov are all out of the Hurricanes’ lineup tonight. Take advantage! There’s no reason they can’t get this thing tied up in the middle frame.

The Flyers allowed the first goal of the game for the 50th time of the season. They’ve been able to go 19-22-8 (.469 points-percentage) when trailing first. They’ve come back plenty this season and they’re going to need to if they want to end the five year playoff drought tonight, and avoid a BIG PRESSURE situation on Tuesday against Montreal.

Second period

Highlight: Matvei Michkov cuts the Canes’ lead in half with his 19th goal of the year, and TREVOR ZEGRAS TIES IT ON THE POWER PLAY! The goals were separated by 2:33 of game time. HELL YES! Michkov’s goal came nearly eight minutes into the period, and was Philly’s first official SOG since there was 8:25 left in the first, and breathed life into the FlyGuys, whose first period effort turned a rabid crowd dead quiet until The Mad Russian found the back of the net.

What I want to see next period: I’m not going to be greedy and say IT HAS TO BE Travis Konecny and/or Owen Tippett who win this thing in the third, but damn, it would be nice if the team’s two best forwards put a stamp on this game and send the Flyers to the playoffs with a regulation win, allowing us all to breathe tomorrow in game 82 against the Habs.

Third period

Highlight: Vladar stood tall through traffic and contact, making nine saves in the period to force overtime.

Overtime

Carolina dominated possession, outshooting the Flyers 3-0, but Vladar stood tall. Also, I guess Michkov didn’t get credit for his breakaway attempt which Bussi was able to stop.

Final note: THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS ARE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS!

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