With back-to-back goals from Trevor Zegras and Tyson Foerster, plus a highlight-reel empty netter from Nick Seeler, the Philadelphia Flyers (40-26-12) picked up another two crucial points in a 5-1 win over the New Jersey Devils (40-35-3) on Tuesday night.
1st Period
In what is now becoming a trend it seems like, it did not take long for the Flyers to get going. Trevor Zegras opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game, finishing off a well-developed play with assists from Travis Sanheim and Owen Tippett.
Tippett carried the puck into the zone on his own and looped behind the net, buying time for support to arrive. Sanheim stepped up to receive the puck and quickly dished it to Zegras, who fired it home. Devils goaltender Jacob Markström was locked in on Sanheim, anticipating a shot, leaving Zegras with an open look on the other side.
Just moments later at 2:21, Jack Hughes was sent to the box for tripping, and the Flyers capitalized. Zegras struck again, at 3:38, on the power play for his second goal of the night, with assists from Porter Martone and Jamie Drysdale.
Zegras carried the puck into the zone before dishing it off to Martone, who fired a shot toward the net. Zegras was perfectly positioned for the deflection, tipping it past Markström to make it 2-0.
With goals No. 24 and 25 on the season, Zegras officially surpassed his previous career high of 23, and still has time to add to it.
The Devils responded at 12:12 when Cody Glass cut the lead in half. Jonas Siegenthaler’s shot from the point deflected off Glass in front, popping up into the air and landing behind Dan Vladař in the net before he even realized where it went.
After 20 minutes, the Flyers held a 2-1 lead, though the Devils had a slight edge in shots on goal (10-7) and were beginning to push the pace.
2nd Period
The Flyers’ penalty kill wast tested just 31 seconds in to the period. They were called for too many men on the ice, but successfully killed the penalty thanks to a strong effort from Luke Glendening and several key saves from Vladař. The kill quickly turned into offense.
At 2:46, Tyson Foerster restored the two-goal lead with a goal off the rush, assisted by Matvei Michkov. After Vladař made a big pad save on Dougie Hamilton, Michkov tracked down the rebound along the boards and sent it up ice. Foerster and Tippett broke in on a 2-on-1 against Hamilton, who committed to breaking up the anticipated pass, leaving Foerster free to shoot, and he made no mistake, beating Markström to make it 3-1.
Two minutes later, the Devils nearly answered. Jesper Bratt was on a breakaway by his lonesome but missed the net. A scramble followed, including a shot attempt from Luke Hughes, before the puck bounced off the boards and set up the Flyers once again.
The play started as another odd-man rush with Foerster, Michkov, and Zegras. Foerster dropped the puck back to Michkov, who moved it to Zegras. Zegras attempted a quick pass back across to Foerster in front, which was partially disrupted by Jonathan Kovacevic, but the puck still found its way through. Foerster collected it and finished the play, extending the Flyers’ lead to 4-1.
Noah Cates was called for delay of game at 12:38 after sending the puck over the glass, but the Flyers’ penalty kill came through again. Sean Couturier, Christian Dvorak, and Foerster all contributed to clearing attempts, while Vladař stood tall with five saves against chances from Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Simon Nemec, and Jack Hughes.
3rd Period
A little before the halfway point of the period, Denver Barkey was called for delay of game, but Philadelphia killed off yet another penalty. Couturier, Sanheim, and Glendening did the heavy lifting here, effectively burning time off the clock without requiring Vladař to make a save.
After the Flyers’ killed Barkey’s penalty, Brian Halonen was called for high-sticking, giving the Flyers another power-play opportunity. Martone, Foerster, and Cates each registered shots on goal, but the Flyers were unable to convert.
Nick Seeler capped off the night with an empty-net goal, but not your typical one. After Dawson Mercer attempted a backhand play to keep the puck onside, Seeler intercepted it and launched a shot from the faceoff dot in the defensive zone. The puck sailed past nearly everyone on the ice and found the back of the net, making it 5-1. An empty-netter, yes, but an impressive one, and a well-earned reward for Seeler’s steady effort.
It was a complete effort from the Flyers, who continue to find ways to pick up key points late in the season.
Dan Vladař earned his 27th win of the season, stopping 23 of 24 shots. This marks his third straight game allowing just one goal and his 11th game this season with only a single goal against.
The Standings
With the loss, the Devils were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
The Flyers, meanwhile, improved to 92 points and remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Out-of-town results did not offer much help. The Ottawa Senators defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2, holding onto the second wild card spot with 92 points.
The Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets delivered the worst-case scenario for Philadelphia, with Columbus winning in a shootout, meaning both teams picked up points. The Blue Jackets now sit just outside a playoff spot with 90 points, while the Red Wings and New York Islanders trail just behind at 89 points.
Looking ahead to Wednesday, April 8, the schedule is light with only three games, none of which heavily impact the Flyers. The only one worth a glance is the Washington Capitals facing the Toronto Maple Leafs, as Washington, currently at 87 points, is not yet mathematically eliminated.
Up Next
The Flyers return to action on Thursday, April 9, when they take on the Detroit Red Wings (40-29-9) at 7pm/ET. With the standings tightening, it is a crucial matchup, and one the Flyers will need to have.
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