This was a brutal watch if you’re watching the development of certain Philadelphia Flyers (1-3-0) prospects. The Washington Capitals (3-0-1) more closely resembled the Hershey Bears.
That didn’t stop another shellacking by the Capitals in the 2026 NHL Preseason. When these clubs first faced off on Monday, the Capitals won, 5-2, icing a heavier NHL lineup. In the finale of their preseason, the Flyers put together an even worse performance, losing 5-1.
No matter the angle, Philadelphia essentially lost to the Bears.
“We had a bunch of chances. We don’t score. Then, all of a sudden, every time they shot, they scored, right? Then, guys get frustrated. I’m actually glad we lost five to one. It’s a little humbling, which is good for us. Sometimes you’re not as good as you think you are.” – Rick Tocchet; 9/26/2026
In fact, the only facet favoring Washington was goaltending. Charlie Lindgren (1-0-0, 93.6%SV, 3GA) earned his sole win of the 2026 NHL Preseason. Lindgren faced Aleksei Kolosov (0-2-0, 78.5%SV, 9GA) through two periods. Then, Cal Petersen (0-0-0, 100%SV, 0GA) saw his only action of the 2026 NHL Preseason. Lindgren is at least an NHL goaltender in some capacity, while Kolosov isn’t convincing enough to start ahead of Carson Bjarnason (0-0-0, 75%SV, 2GA) on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
It’s not worth investing in the 2026 NHL Preseason. After all, the lineups aren’t official for the 2026-2027 NHL Regular Season. The NHL rosters are due for submission on Monday. Nonetheless, the Flyers got torched.
Final: Flyers 1, Capitals 5
- Aleksei Kolosov: L
- Jamie Drysdale: 1G
- Travis Konecny: 1A
- Tyson Foerster: 1A
- Charlie Lindgren: W
- Andrew Cristall: 1G
- Maxim Schafer: 1G
- Ethen Frank (PPG): 1G
- Louie Belpedio: 1A
- Andrew Cristall: 1G, 1A
- Theodor Niederbach: 1G
- Lynden Lakovic: 1G
- Alexander Suzdalev: 1A
- Petr Sikora: 1A
Travis Konecny (+)
Travis Konecny (1A, 2PIM, 14:50TOI, 2SOG, 1BLK, 3HIT) had the primary assist on the lone goal for Philadelphia. He collected the puck along the wall before finding Jamie Drysdale for a short-lived lead.
He and Rasmus Ristolainen stirred the pot, getting into a scrum with David Gucciardi. That’s a scrum at the end of a period to ignite a spark after David Jiříček served a minor penalty for high-sticking. Unfortunately, that spark didn’t create a fire in the 2026 NHL Preseason finale. The Flyers’ penalty kill went 3/4 (75%).
Konecny drew a double-minor penalty for high-sticking from Cam Allen, but Philadelphia’s power play went 0/4 (0%) on the night. He played ‘the rat’ immediately in the 2026 NHL Preseason. Among forwards, Konecny finished third in shifts taken and second in hits and blocked shots.
Tyson Foerster (+)
Tyson Foerster (1A, 2PIM, 17:55TOI, 2SOG, 4HIT) began the lone scoring play for the Flyers on the forecheck, containing the puck in the offensive zone. It’s one of the reasons why, especially following this loss, that Foerster should be a lock for the top-six of the lineup. Foerster is a goal scorer who can help generate offense due to his forechecking, and that’s powerful when Rick Tocchet is creating the lineup.
Foerster missed 53 games in 2025-2026 due to separate injuries. He looked ready for the 2026-2027 NHL Regular Season. His only real misstep in the loss was a minor penalty for tripping. Among forwards, Foerster finished third in ice time and led in hits and shifts taken.
Jamie Drysdale (+)
Drysdale (1G, +1, 22:37TOI, 4SOG, 1HIT) provided Philadelphia with a lead. He placed a well-aimed wrist shot from the top of the slot past Lindgren, 1-0, with 19:29 remaining in the second period.
He moved with pace and looked confident with the puck on his stick. That’s been the read on Drysdale throughout the 2026 Training Camp, too. It’s no surprise he’ll be the top unit of the power play this season. Among defensemen, Drysdale finished second in hits, tied for the lead with Cam York in shifts taken, and led in shots on goal.
Following the game, Drysdale shared his disappointment with how the game played out:
Noah Cates
Noah Cates (14:47TOI, 4SOG, 1HIT, 58.3%FO) popped on the ice. Among forwards, he was third in faceoff efficiency, second in shifts taken, and led the Flyers in shots on goal.
At the end of the 2026 NHL Postseason, Matvei Michkov cited how important it was to play next to Cates. Cates could be the C2 in Philadelphia, centering Foerster and Michkov higher up the lineup. He showed the high-motor Tocchet wants, and Cates is a terrific forechecking center, likely extending possessions to generate offense with Foerster and Michkov.
Sean Couturier
Sean Couturier (14:17TOI, 1SOG, 1HIT, 60%FO) was the most efficient at faceoffs of all the centers. I exclude Noel Acciari because he’ll be utilized at right wing. Acciari, when called upon, stepped in nicely at the faceoff dot.
Couturier on the fourth line is a great fit. The fourth line has two solid forwards at the faceoff dot in Couturier and Acciari, and they each provide scoring depth.
Travis Sanheim
Travis Sanheim (-1, 22:27TOI, 3SOG, 3BLK) is revving up toward his normal usage. Among defensemen, Sanheim was third in shifts taken, second in ice time and shots on goal, and led in shots blocked.
Sanheim will outfit the top pair with Rasmus Ristolainen. There’s no surprise there. The defensive pairings will remain at the status quo, except the bottom, which could feature Nick Seeler and Simon Benoit.
Rasmus Ristolainen
Ristolainen (-1, 2PIM, 18:09TOI, 2SOG, 2BLK, 2HIT) carried out the physicality, per usual. Among defensemen, Ristolainen tied for third in shots on goal with Seeler, was second in shots blocked, and led in hits.
With the puck on his stick deep in the offensive zone, Ristolainen made a great move behind the net to gain position on Lindgren. He couldn’t quite stuff the puck to reflect on the scoreboard, but he’s showing the ability to still work deep into the offensive zone. Ristolainen can be a runaway truck with the puck, too. That’s the invitation to unleash Ristolainen down the slot, like Drysdale.
Aleksei Kolosov (-)
Kolosov (L, 79.2%SV, 5GA) should not be the recalled goaltender from the Phantoms if there’s a need on the Flyers in the 2026-2027 NHL Regular Season. We all know what Kolosov is in relation to the NHL. If you aren’t familiar, revisit the 6-3 loss to the New York Rangers from January 17th, 2026.
If there’s something a goaltender can control to diminish the likelihood of getting scored on, it’s turnovers. Kolosov turned the puck over directly to Spencer Smallman, who passed to Andrew Cristall for the easy dunk, 1-1, with 15:28 remaining in the second period. He opened the door wide open at the crease and didn’t bother to shut it. That’s sloppy goaltending at any level.
David Jiříček (-)
Jiříček (-3, 2PIM, 15:20TOI) is firmly on the outside looking in considering Philadelphia’s lineup. He’s a complete defensive liability, and it proved costly on a couple of occasions:
First, Jiříček couldn’t handle an incoming puck into the defensive zone. Then, in the same sequence, he lost the oncoming puck battle, resulting in a turnover directly to Maxim Schafer for the lead, 2-1, with 12:24 remaining in the second period. The urgency and awareness were not there.
Later, Jiříček committed a minor penalty for high-sticking, and it cost the Flyers. Ethen Frank scored on the power play, 3-1, with 7:36 remaining in the second period. He ripped a one-timer past Kolosov. Is Alexander Ovechkin offering pointers to Frank?
Lastly, Jiříček turned the puck over again, this time to Petr Sikora, and didn’t get back on defense. That left Ristolainen out to hang, splitting Alexander Suzdalev and Lynden Lakovic. Lakovic scored in close on the short odd-man rush, 5-1, with 3:54 remaining in the third period. Tocchet and Todd Reirden must teach Jiříček how to defend, especially if he isn’t shooting the puck on the power play if he does enter the lineup. John Tortorella and Brad Shaw had a similar project with Ristolainen.
“He [David Jiříček] had a tough night. Three or four guys had a tough night. But, being a pro, you got to bounce back. So, we’ll get to him; get some video [and] make him understand some things. You’re going to have a tough night. You just got to make sure you stay consistent.” – Rick Tocchet; 9/26/2026
Before the second period, Daniel Brière had this to say when asked how much Jiříček being waiver-exempt played into him making the roster:
“David [Jiříček] played okay. [He] didn’t get beat by anyone to lose his job. He’s going to be given the chance. He had a solid first period today. He’s going to start on the roster, and it’s going to be up to him to show us that he deserves the minutes; that he deserves to stay in the lineup.” – Daniel Brière; 9/26/2026
That aged like milk.
Christian Dvorak (-)
Christian Dvorak (-2, 12:34TOI, 57.1%FO) lost the faceoff that turned into the power play goal by Frank. However, he won most of his share throughout the 2026 NHL Preseason finale.
Owen Tippett (-)
Owen Tippett (-1, 17:12TOI, 2SOG, 2BLK, 1HIT) had a bad turnover, and if I’m going to give Jiříček the works about it, then I can’t omit Tippett.
Tippett turned over the puck to Theodor Niederbach on a failed clear, or pass, to Michkov. Niederbach beat Kolosov on a quick snap shot, 4-1, with 18:53 remaining in the third period. The bar must be higher because Tippett will be on the top line with Trevor Zegras and Porter Martone.
Up Next
Next, the Philadelphia Flyers will open the 2026-2027 NHL Regular Season on Wednesday, September 30th, versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. The puck drops at 7:30pm/ET.
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