The Philadelphia Flyers (22-12-7) kicked off their four-game homestand with an action-packed, 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks (21-19-3). It will likely stand as their best win and home game experience in the 2025-26 season, and not without good reasons.
Last year, when the Flyers hosted the Ducks, it was an outright thrashing. Philadelphia won 6-0, and Anaheim appeared disinterested in engaging at all that game. While the Flyers still pummeled the Ducks this year, the game had a different flavor. This was more than a party to scream and chant obscenities at Cutter Gauthier. It was a game where the teams and fans were so involved, you could have mistaken it for a playoff game. Cutter Gauthier has been a top-25 goal scorer in the league. Trevor Zegras has had an epic comeback season full of vengeance, averaging a point per game. This was two competitive teams that continued to brew a unique rivalry as each team plays on different coasts. All eyes were on them to see who would come out on top in the narrative.
Trevor Zegras Avenges Himself
For a second, it almost became the Cutter Gauthier Game. Gauthier opened the scoring within the first five minutes, and directed his celebration towards the crowd. However, there was just one thing, or person, who would have an answer. That was none other than Trevor Zegras, who answered Gauthier’s goal with not one, but two of his own. He would tie the game up, and then give the Flyers the lead, which they never relinquished. His celebration was iconic, and drew in attention from national media. He then followed that up with a second goal; same shot, same spot. He erupted in emotions, and belted to the crowd, slamming his stick on the ice.
“It was a tough ending with my time there. I’ve been thinking about this game for a long time and it was one that meant a lot to me. It was definitely cool to get one and then obviously two so, {it was} special.” – Trevor Zegras; 1/6/2026
“Woke Up and Chose Violence”
This was also a violent game. In the first period, Bobby Brink who found himself on the wrong end of a blindside hit. Noah Cates dropped the gloves in defense to Brink, and got the jersey over Jansen Harkins. Then in the second period, Jamie Drysdale would leave the period early after a questionable but “accidental” contact between him and Ross Johnston. Garnet Hathaway ran over two different players, with the second one being so intense he was rewarded with one piping hot Radko Gudas. This game was an absolute gong-show.
First Period
Shots: 13-5 Philadelphia
Score: 2-1 Philadelphia
Expected Goals Battle (5v5): 0.54 – 0.30 Philadelphia
Expected Goals Battle (All Situations): 1.66 – 0.82 Philadelphia
The first period was hands down the most entertaining period of the game.
Unfortunately, Bobby Brink could not say the same, who got popped in the Ducks zone with his head down just two and half minutes into the game. Noah Cates would respond accordingly and duel Jansen Harkins in a fight, holding his own. Moments like these are important to acknowledge because it speaks to the culture in the locker room. Cates is not a fighter, but in a situation like that, players on the team will rise to the occasion.
Cutter Gauthier drew first blood, who scored his 20th of the season on the powerplay. In less than five minutes of the first period, the Flyers were down, and to the guy who refused to play for them. Ouch.
However, this wouldn’t last long because Trevor Zegras was on a mission of vengeance against his former team. Starting with a slick reception of the puck between the legs, Zegras would push the puck forward to Travis Konecny who would skate the puck in. After a broken pass from Konecny, Christian Dvorak would pick up the loose puck at the point and dangle Gauthier, freezing all five Ducks players. This left Zegras wide open on a tough angle at the bottom of the right circle. That would not matter though, and Zegras would go on to bury it with authority.
And he wasn’t done there. Later in the period, Zegras would score again, in the same spot, the same shot, but this time on the powerplay. This would give the Flyers their first lead which they held onto for the rest of the game. He delivered another emphatic celebration, and the crowed obliged.
When asked how he felt scoring two goals on his former team that gave up on him, he had this much to say,
“ Fucking amazing, fucking amazing. Oh yeah.” – Trevor Zegras; 1/6/2026
This may have gone under the radar, but it’s worth mentioning. Owen Tippett did great work on the second goal. While he did not earn a point on the play, he did help create the scoring chance. Via a slick zone entry and dangle, he drew attention towards him and opened up the ice. This also gave time for Cam York to skate down Broad Street, and was able to sell the shot due to Tippett putting the Ducks in a frenzy. Its this kind of work from Tippett that makes you wonder what he could be in the league if he could do it consistently.
Gauthier would nearly get his second. After a shot squeaked by Dan Vladar, he would make a last-second sweep at the puck, and kept it from just crossing the goal line.
Rasmus Ristolainen entered the chat and delivered a hit as well before the period ended.
Second Period
Shots: 31-10 Philadelphia
Score: 2-1 Philadelphia
Expected Goals Battle (5v5): 1.21 – 0.89 Philadelphia
Expected Goals Battle (All Situations): 3.75 – 1.48 Philadelphia
The pace of the first period carried over into this one, and the Flyers would score again just over a minute through the second period.
This time, it was Anaheim native, Cam York. With a shot from the point, he extended their lead to two. An important insurance marker for sure, because this game feels different for the Ducks if they were to score that next goal, which would have tied the game up.
Garnet Hathaway, while pointless through 32 games, did make an impact on the ice. Shortly after York’s goal, he would deliver a crushing hit to the Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger.
Sadly, this may have inspired Ross Johnston’s collision with Jamie Drysdale who needed help off of the ice. While he and the league has maintained it was an accident, many found this hard to believe. He had just stepped onto the ice after the Hathaway hit, and just happened to run into Drysdale, and apparently also stuck his arm out by accident as well. Regardless, the officials on the ice did not like this, and assessed him with a major penalty and game misconduct.
When asked, Rick Tocchet could not say much, but it certainly sounded like he (and brink) went with the trainers for concussion protocol.
“ They’re getting evaluated. Maybe it’s a concussion, not sure.” – Rick Tocchet; 1/7/2026
Third Period
Shots: 39-18 Philadelphia
Score: 5-2 Philadelphia
Expected Goals Battle (5v5): 1.36 – 1.15 Philadelphia
Expected Goals Battle (All Situations): 4.70 – 1.93 Philadelphia
The Ducks, to their credit, did not fade into the background in the final period. While on the back-end of a back-to-back, they scored another powerplay goal to open the third period. Alex Killorn would score his 4th of the season and cut the Flyers lead in half.
Near the halfway point, Hathaway would lay another vicious hit. This time on Ian Moore. Of course, Hathaway had to answer the bell, and it would be former Flyer and Ducks captain Radko Gudas.
The game would go one with its usual chirps and skirmishes. After Zegras was unable to secure the hattrick, Nikita Grebenkin would do the honors of icing the game.
Up Next
Next, Philadelphia will continue their four-game homestand to host the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7pm/ET on Thursday.
