The NHL Metropolitan Division is so very, very tight that the Flyers started out the night in the 2nd wild card position and ended the night in 2nd place overall. With things running the way that they are in the East everything can change in the blink of an eye. The holidays are upon us and since this is a time of cheer and good will let’s put our Philadelphia psychosis on hold for a few days and just savor the moment. Nothing lasts forever and life it soo short.
The Attitude of Gratitude
Monday marked the final home game of 2025 for the Philadelphia Flyers so there was plenty of fun and festivities to go around. It was a packed house for the holiday celebration and the home team delivered as the Flyers beat the visiting Vancouver Canucks by the score of 5-2. Besides the final score there was plenty for Flyers Fans to be grateful for.
Happy Returns
The Flyers had two valuable players return to the line-up tonight. Goaltender Dan Vladar and Christian Dvorak both returned to play after missing time due to injury. Dvorak is the third highest point leader on the team.
Goaltender Dan Vladar started the game in net for the Flyers. Vladar has been key to the Flyers success so far this season. He is now 13-9-3 with a GAA of 2.39 and a SV% of .910. He stopped 23 of 25 Vancouver shots tonight and it was absolutely a gift to get him back so quickly.
The Flyers recently saw the return of Cam York who missed quite a few games due to injury and Rasmus Ristolainen who has been at large since last March.
Philly vs Vancouver
The Flyers represented themselves well in this tilt from the opening faceoff to the final horn. Even in the scoreless 1st period Philadelphia outshot Vancouver 14-5.
2nd Period
Nikita Grebenkin picked up the only goal in the 2nd period. Rodrigo Abols doing the hard work along the boards fed to the puck to Emil Andrae who fired a slapshot from the point. Grebenkin redirected the shot past Canucks netminder Thatcher Demko to send his team into the final period up one to nothing.
3rd Period
The Flyers were moving the puck well to start the 3rd period and it was only a matter of time before they would light the lamp again. Grebenkin with a sharp pass out front to Carl Grundstrom. Grundstrom fired the shot Demko made the save. Grundstrom grabbed the rebound and snapped it home 5:58 into the period. Abols picked up his second assist of the night. 2-0 Flyers.
Next, Christian Dvorak batted home a puck that took a wild hop off the back dasher at 7:59. There was some discussion about a possible high stick but the goal eventually stood. The assists went to Travis Konecny and Trevor Zegras. 3-0 Flyers.
Konecny and Zegras continue to be a dangerous combination. They’ve been clicking since the early days of training camp. They hold the top two slots as team point leaders. Zegras currently leads the Flyers in both points and goals.
Vancouver’s Max Sasson beat Vladar five hole on a breakaway at 13:05. It’s hard to argue with the Flyers success tonight but some of the plays they make right in front of the net in their own zone are shockingly sketchy at times. In days of yore teams would not even make passes that crossed their own slot even in the safest of situations. That has loosened up over the years but the Flyers really push it to the danger zone at times, and not in a good way. 3-1 Flyers.
Late in the 3rd period Owen Tippet got a break in all alone. He went backhand to forehand only to be stoned by the Vancouver netminder. Moments later at 15:35 he got the same break streaking in from the left side with the puck. This time he went forehand to backhand pulling Demko across the crease and beating him with a beautiful float blocker side. 4-1 Flyers.
It was a surprise to see the Canucks pull their goaltender down by three but they did it anyway. Matvei Michkov created his own opportunity when he deflected a Vancouver pass right onto the stick of Noah Cates. Cates fed the puck back to Michkov who fired it into the empty net with 1:11 left in regulation. 5-1 Flyers.
Drew O’connor scored a “yea whatever” with 18 seconds remaining to ding Vladar’s stats and set the final score at 5-2 in favor of the hosting Philadelphia Flyers.
Up Next: They Flyers head immediately to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks Tuesday night at 9:00 PM.
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