Saturday’s matinee offered fans one more clue as to who will be making up the roster for the 2025-2026 NHL regular season. With Dennis Gilbert being sent through waivers, it all but confirmed that Jett Luchanko, Christian Dvorak, and Noah Juulsen made the team. The Philadelphia Flyers (3-4-0) largely outplayed the New Jersey Devils (3-2-2) in the meantime.
Devils netminder Jake Allen put on a show for the few New Jersey fans that weaseled their way into the building. This game went into a shootout, where both Trevor Zegras, and Travis Konecny pulled off impressive moves to score the first and game-winning shootout goals to close out the preseason.
There were a lot of standouts in the Flyers’ final tune-up before the regular season. On defense, Travis Sanheim continued to score in the preseason with his third goal, and best buds Jamie Drysdale and Cam York were extremely active in the offensive zone, hitting the net, making plays, and dancing on the blue line. Matvei Michkov could have easily come away with 4 points this game. He had several scoring opportunities, and his playmaking continued to shine. Zegras was all over the ice offensively, and nearly scored just 30 seconds into the first period. Konecny scored 2 goals, and the game-winning shootout goal. They were also extremely skilled plays.
First Period
Shots: 11-11
Score: 1-1
The game nearly kicked off with Zegras opening the scoring. Just 20 seconds in, he found himself in alone with the goal, shot it backhand, and the puck hit the far post. The Flyers immediately went onto the power play but were unable to capitalize off of the momentum.
Michkov wasted no time getting involved on the offense, who later dished an excellent pass that would set up a near tap-in goal for York. York then made a strong read on the Devils defensemen, anticipating a pass, and nearly scoring on a breakaway.
Unfortunately, the Devils were able to beat the Flyers to the scoreboard. Kevin Rooney redirected a point shot, making this a 1-0 game.
But that lead wouldn’t last for long. Luchanko demonstrated one of the reasons Danny Brière drafted him on this sequence – good work along the circle with the puck, and making a difficult pass to a teammate for a scoring opportunity. Sanheim, who already had 2 goals this preseason, tied the game back up with a wrister from the high slot area. Some people may have slept on this, but that whole sequence could not happen without Nikita Grebenkin. It started with a great effort to maintain possession in the offensive zone. He then read the developing play, and successfully battled for a screen that lead to the goal.
Seconds after tying the game, the Flyers almost scored again (you’ll be seeing this a lot for the rest of this game). Luchanko continued to flash his IQ, positioning himself for the puck along the boards, and corralled the puck and found a streaking Rodrigo Ābols who nearly sniped one high glove, but Allen from the start had no interest on allowing the Flyers to have a “cookie night” on a Devils team that was almost entirely made up of their prospects.
Second Period
Shots: 21-13
Score: 2-2
Third Period
Shots: 31-25
Score: 3-3
Things were going well, until they weren’t. Dan Vladař, up until this moment, had been solid in net for the Flyers. Unfortunately, this was his first “yikes” momentum in the Flyers uniform, costing Philadelphia a goal in the third period.
However, this NHL-heavy Flyers squad was not going to go away quietly. Konecny scored an unbelievable wrist shot to tie things up and pushed the Flyers into overtime.
Overtime
Shots: 4-1 Flyers
Score: 3-3
There was more highway robbery in overtime, and you should know who was responsible for this. Every trio Rick Tocchet seemed to throw out played well but could not beat Allen.
Shootout
The Flyers were able to end what was a seemingly never-ending game with ease in the shootout. Zegras beat Allen five-hole and Konecny used one of his signature shootout moves, swinging wide right and waiting for the goalie to overcommit moving post to post before chipping the puck over the glove.
Up Next
Next, the Flyers travel to Florida to open the 2025-26 regular season and face off against the Panthers on Thursday, October 9th at 7:00pm ET.
