The Philadelphia Flyers 2025-26 season is officially underway. After the fifth consecutive extended off season the Flyers were in Florida Thursday night to faceoff against the two time reigning Stanley Cup Champions. This was an uphill battle for the Orange and Black and a very challenging “fresh start” to say the least. A dynastic powerhouse against a rebuilding Flyers squad playing their first regular season game under new head coach Rick Tocchet.
Philly vs Florida
After a strong showing throughout training camp the newest Flyers netminder Dan Vladar was awarded the opening night start. Vladar was strong and confident during a first period where his team was outshot 13-6. Vladar’s positioning and tracking were key as Florida relentlessly attacked.
The period became more lopsided as it progressed. Florida was winning the board battles and controlling the puck. They kept the Flyers pretty effectively blocked out and when an opening did arise they had our old friend Sergei Bobrovsky to deal with.
All that being said the Flyers held their own against the Champs during the scoreless opening period. Their goaltender deserves much of the credit for that.
Busy Sticks
What the Flyers were lacking in shots on goal they were making up for by using their sticks to slow down the speedy Panthers. This did not go unknoticed. Interference, hooking, tripping, the Flyers found themselves shorthanded on a number of occasions.
Florida finally broke past Dan Vladar with their 17th shot of the game just 3:37 into the 2nd period. It was a power-play goal on a Anton Lundell wrist shot far blocker side from the top of the circle.
Florida continued to keep and control the play in the Flyers end. By the middle of the second period Florida had the Flyers doubled up on shots 20-9.
Hard Work
The Flyers bounced back with a couple nice chances. Noah Cates hit the post on a rush. Deslauriers was denied by Bobrovsky on the insuing play. The Flyers strung together a few more chances and then finally hard work paid off.
With just 2:12 remaining in the middle period an icing call led to a faceoff in the Florida zone. Noah Cates won the draw back to Tyson Foerster. Cates chugged towards an unsettled rebound in the slot. His outstretched stick caught the underside of the wobbling puck chipping it up and over Sergei Bobrovsky. It was an odd goal but not a total fluke, Cates hustled and earned the first Flyers goal of the new season.
Defense
The Flyers survived a few near tragic defensive breakdowns in the first two periods of this game, but on the scoreboard where it counts they were heading into the final period of this match-up tied at one. The Flyers have two of their top defenseman, Ristolainen and York, out due to injury. Newly named Associate Captain Travis Sanheim logged monster minutes (27:15) in their absence.
Vladar was facing a lot of shots and keeping his team competitive in this tilt. The Panthers regained the lead 2:19 into the 3rd period when Brad Marchand scored on a wrist shot from the far boards. Vladar appeared to be partially screened and did not seem to have the puck tracked as it sailed past his ear and into the far side of the net. It was Marchand’s sixth shot on goal of the game.
Missed Opportunities
With just over eight minutes left Travis Konecny hit the side of a rare Bobrovsky gaping net from point blank range. Florida kept coming at the Flyers. Marchand completely whiffed over the Flyers net on a clean breakaway. The Flyers were plaguing themselves with give-aways that Florida was quickly turning into odd man rushes.
There was no extra space in the Florida zone either. The Panthers would get the puck to the boards win the battles and break out with numbers and speed. Extremely effective execution. The Flyers were forced to pull the MVP of this game with two minutes left to skate the extra attacker.
Falling Short
Foerster took a penalty with 1:16 left to keep the Panthers from breaking towards the Flyers open net. Vladar returned to face the Panthers power-play as time ran out on the night.
This was a valiant effort by the outmatched Flyers squad. Their goaltender earned them a much closer outcome than what could have been. The guy in the other net did a pretty nice job as well but he was nowhere near as busy. The underdog Flyers were outshot in this game 34-20 but lost by just a goal. Final score 2-1 Panthers.
Next up: Flyers in Carolina Saturday night at 7:00 PM
Extra Credit: At one point Vladar took a shot to the mask and quickly shook it off for a stoppage of play. There was no immediate whistle. The Panthers had control of the puck and the Flyers goaltender squared off at the top of his crease without a mask to face whatever might be coming his way. Not to make the whole night about Vladar but as far as this opening night match is concerned he was clearly the standout. If this is what he brings every start it’s a game changer.
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