Instant reactions: FOERSTER, VLADAR SHOOTOUT HEROICS SEND FLYERS TO PLAYOFFS

Sep 26, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Tyson Foerster (71) and right wing Matvei Michkov (39) celebrate win against the New York Islanders at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Watch PHLY Flyers Postgame The Philadelphia Flyers need just two standings points in their final two games to find their way back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2019-20, and an opportunity to actually host postseason hockey for the first time since 2017-18. It did not start well for Philly on the scoreboard, falling behind 2-0 after controlling much of the first half of the first, only for a light Carolina Hurricanes roster to take over and score the only two goals of the opening frame.

But Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras gave the Orange & Black life in the second, tying the game and giving the Flyers a chance to beat the Hurricanes at the Xfinity Mobile Arena (et al. ) for the first time in ten tries, having last defeated Rod Brind’Amour’s squad in Philadelphia back on March 5, 2020. With a “win a period, make the playoffs” opportunity entering the third knotted at two, the Flyers looked gassed for a lot of the third, while also getting jobbed on two un-called blatant elbows .

The Canes outshot Philly 9-8 in the third, but neither goalie surrendered, and for the 28th time through 81 games, we got overtime! Scoreless through the five minutes of 3v3, despite a Michkov breakaway, the Flyers won a four-round shootout to punch their postseason ticket! Dan Vladar made all four stops, while Tyson Foerster, the Flyers’ fourth shooter, ripped the puck by Brandon Bussi for the skills competition’s only goal for the win.

PLAYOFFS HERE WE COME! First period Highlight: The Flyers registered the first four shots on goal of the game and were generating plenty of chances in the first ten minutes, but Carolina’s swarming attack, and red hot power play, have Philly in a 2-0 hole through the first twenty minutes of action. By the time the buzzer sounded, the Flyers maintained a 7-6 shot advantage, and attempts were 17 apiece, but the Canes absolutely took over after their first goal.