Following a decisive win on home ice versus the Nashville Predators (4-6-2), the Philadelphia Flyers (6-3-1) are officially streaking for the first time in the 2025-2026 NHL Regular Season.
If you’re watching the scoreboard, you aren’t getting a correct read on this game. The Predators outplayed the Flyers each period. Hockey can sometimes be cruel, not always rewarding the hardest-working team. It can reward the most opportunistic team instead.
Nashville worked early and often against Philadelphia, pinning them back into the defensive zone. Dan Vladař was put to work throughout this tilt, remaining as hot as ever between the pipes. For the Flyers to battle back, they needed to capitalize on every opportunity.
After all, capitalizing on opportunity is a result of preparation. Here’s how it all went down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Xfinity Mobile Arena:
First Period
Shots: 10-3, Predators
Score: 0-0
Rick Tocchet sent Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates, Bobby Brink, Cam York, and Travis Sanheim as his starting lineup to circle the opening faceoff. It was the same starting lineup Tocchet iced versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. For all the conversation sparking online about a desire to shake up the lineup, it doesn’t seem like Tocchet is close to considering it. He’s right, because not only is this line featuring Foerster, Cates, and Brink performing at the highest level for Philadelphia, but other lines, particularly Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, and Matvei Michkov, are finding their next gear, too.
It was shocking that Tocchet didn’t put Nikita Grebenkin back into the lineup, replacing Nicolas Deslauriers. Deslauriers was inserted against the Penguins, a rivalry game, in case tensions became heavy, and they did. This matchup wasn’t the same, which seemed like the perfect opportunity for Grebenkin to receive more NHL shifts. Nonetheless, Deslauriers joined Rodrigo Ābols and Garnet Hathaway.
Filip Forsberg took the first shot on goal, a perimeter shot defended by Vladař. For the Flyers, Foerster placed a backhand shot on Juuse Saros. Jamie Drysdale also attempted a shot from the point with traffic in front of Saros, but it was deflected wide of the net by Cates.
Drysdale served a minor penalty for hooking. On the delayed penalty, before Drysdale entered the penalty box, Steven Stamkos hit the crossbar. Luke Evangelista missed a grand opportunity, wide right. Vladař dove across the crease to take away some of the net, but there’s a good likelihood Evangelista would’ve scored with a more accurate shot.
On the penalty kill, York cleared the defensive zone. Sean Couturier deflected a shot by Brady Skjei with his stick, which broke. Dvorak hustled onto the penalty kill, replacing Couturier, and closing off another shooting lane. Overall, Philadelphia finished 2/2 (100%) on the penalty kill.
Throughout the first period, the Predators weren’t shy about getting their shots on goal. The Flyers made one too many passes with the puck. Nashville had four shots that hit the post.
Second Period
Shots: 24-11, Predators
Score: 2-1, Flyers
Philadelphia only showed a couple of signs of sustained possession. Zegras made a controlled entry in the offensive zone, dropping a pass to Ābols for the first shot from the Flyers in the second period. Then, we’re back to the Predators pushing the pace.
Noah Juulsen attempted a shot on goal, which struck Couturier. Unfortunately, friendly fire would take Couturier out of the remainder of the game.
“It was a shot from the point. So, we’ll evaluate. [We] can’t tell right now.” – Rick Tocchet; 10/30/2025
At the faceoff dot, Philadelphia dominated midway through regulation. From there, Nashville ran away with shot totals, matching their first period totals halfway through the second. Vladař remained a beacon of light for the Flyers, keeping the Predators off the scoreboard.
Owen Tippett generated the first high-danger scoring chance, a breakaway, but Saros made the save. Soon after, Michkov couldn’t convert on his breakaway. Nick Blankenburg caught Michkov on an angle enough to force a backhand shot, which was saved by Saros.
“He’s [Matvei Michkov] light years, the last three weeks, what he was three weeks ago. The coaches are doing a great job. He’s in. He’s there, knocking at the door, and he’s watching. I give him a lot of credit. He’s self-started; sometimes you have to get players all the time, but he’s there. That’s a great sign that he wants information, and then I can play him the last two minutes of a game, or three minutes, like I don’t have to worry about because he’s in his spot. That’s a perfect example [of] doing a good job there.” – Rick Tocchet; 10/30/2025
Zegras broke through for Philadelphia, 1-0, with 7:15 remaining in the second period. Michkov won a battle along the boards, getting the puck to Zegras. From the point, Zegras sent his wrist shot past Saros to establish a lead.
More ‘Michkov Magic’ helped Drysdale extend the lead, 2-0, with 4:19 remaining in the second period. Michkov surveyed the offensive zone from behind Saros. It’s possible, based on his history, that Nashville thought Michkov would attempt ‘The Michigan.’ However, he made the right play, setting up a quick stick by Drysdale for a blink-and-you-will-miss-it goal from under the hash marks on Saros.
Matthew Wood put the Predators on the scoreboard, 2-1, with 1:57 remaining in the second period. Nick Seeler lost his stick in a block attempt after the Flyers failed to clear the defensive zone. Wood placed a well-aimed snapshot past Vladař to cut the deficit in half.
Third Period
Shots: 33-18, Predators
Score: 4-1, Flyers
Along with York and Drysdale making standout plays, Emil Andrae defended well enough in his return to the lineup from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In the stat sheet, Andrae leaves a lasting impression with a hit on Wood, who scored the lone goal for Nashville. He looked more decisive on the ice than the competition lined up for the 3LD role: Egor Zamula and Adam Ginning.
“I think he [Emil Andrae] played solid. I think he really played solid. He’s strung two good games together; he’s only played two games, but he’s going back for the puck, and he can wheel the net and make a play. That’s big. I don’t see us being hemmed in a lot when he’s on the ice. Now, he’s got to string some good stuff together, but I think his breakouts is really helping that part because sometimes we struggle getting that puck out with some execution, and he’s added that. Hopefully, we can keep stacking some good games for us.” – Rick Tocchet; 10/30/2025
Nicolas Hague served a minor penalty for hooking. Cates won a clean faceoff, York dished across the point to Zegras, and then Zegras scored on the power play, 3-1, with 13:00 remaining in the third period. The second power play unit remains hot for Philadelphia, scoring in three straight games. The Flyers finished 1/1 (100%) on the power play.
Ābols had a quiet but sturdy performance on the fourth line again. The majority of his scoring chances were rooted in quality shots, especially on a breakaway where Saros made the save. He continues to win at the faceoff dot, too. In the faceoff circle, Ābols finished 5/8 (62.5%FO).
Erik Haula and Cates got into it, each receiving minor penalties to induce four-on-four, even-strength hockey. Vladař robbed Michael Bunting at the crease, looking as big-time as he had throughout this contest. He was tracking just about every bounce, deflection, and shot coming his way.
“He [Dan Vladař] was great. He was the difference maker. We were asleep for a couple of periods. He was our ‘smelling salt,’ waking us up a little bit. He was really good.” – Rick Tocchet; 10/30/2025
Andrew Brunette pulled Saros during the four-on-four. Travis Konecny scored an empty net goal, 4-1, with 4:06 remaining in the third period.
Philadelphia defeated the Predators, 4-1. Drysdale scored the game-winner in the second period.
Up Next
Next, the Philadelphia Flyers host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, November 1st. The puck drops at 7pm/ET.
