Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
No, I am not throwing in the towel or declaring anything over or out of reach. It’s not accurate to describe anything as being impossible until it mathematically is. It is not realistic to be perpetually negative any more than it is to be chronically over the top optimistic. In an attempt to leave all bias at the door the most accurate way to approach this time of year is to watch the games play out and see where it takes us.
One of the many beautiful things about the sport that we love is the fact that anything can happen on any given night. As they say “that’s why they play the games”. The last time the Flyers went to the Stanley Cup Final was in 2010. They didn’t even make the playoffs until they won in a shootout on the final day of the regular season.
Also that year they beat Boston in seven games to win the semi final. They were down 3-0 in game seven. At one point were down three games to zero in the series. You get my point, it ain’t over till it’s over.
Detroit 4 Philly 2
The Flyers came into this match tied in points with the Red Wings in an East Coast wild card race involving a number of team who could not be any closer. Some days it’s a three way tie to be two points out. And even after all this if the Flyers beat the Islanders on Friday night they will be one point out of third place in the Metropolitan Division. If the Flyers can get into 3rd place in the Metro they can totally bypass this entire wild card mess.
This game against the Red Wings was frustrating for a number of reasons. This was the first game back for Tyson Foerster who has not played since sustaining and injury in a contest against the Penguins on December 1st. It also was the home ice debut of Porter Martone.
When they handed out the line-up sheets before the start of tonight’s game it surely was encouraging. Top line: Tyson Foerster, Trevor Zegras, and Owen Tippett. Second line: Travis Konecny, Christian Dvorak, Porter Martone. Third line: Denver Barkey, Noah Cates, Matvei Michkov. This is a talented bunch of players. Things are really starting to come together.
The Flyers outshot the Red Wings 34-19. Samuel Ersson who has been playing some great hockey as of late made some big stops at key times. Tyson Foerster factored in right away scoring the Flyers first goal.
Porter Martone picked up the primary assist on the second Flyers goal. When all was said and done the Philadelphia couldn’t catch a bounce all night long and the Red Wings moved ahead of the Flyers in the wild card race with the win.
January
No hockey team wins every game and these games down the stretch are not going to be what defines the Flyers 2025-26 season. What set up this whole scenario was the way things went during the month of January.
Before the calendar flipped the Flyers were spending their time just points out of 1st place in the division. January was a disaster. A skid turned into the tailspin that morphed into a free fall. By the Olympic break things were looking pretty bleak for the Orange and Black.
After the break the Flyers had quite a hole to dig their way out of. And they’ve done an impressive job in doing so. They’ve played some great hockey and have found their way back to the pack with a fighting chance at post season play.
January was the outlier. They were doing great before it and after it. If it weren’t for that prolonged free fall they would be sitting somewhere at the top of the standings with their sights set on bigger things. That is where this uphill battle came from. And in all fairness they’ve be doing an impressive job fighting it. It could turn out to be too little too late but it has been a valiant effort. And they still have a shot.
Martone’s unusual 1st NHL point
Midway through the 3rd period Porter Martone fired a shot from the point that hit Travis Konecny in the chest while he was being mugged and thrown into Detroit’s goaltender John Gibson. The puck ended up in the net.
The goal was reviewed and ruled “no goal”. Flyers coach Rick Tocchet issued a challenge on a play that had already been reviewed. Upon the second review it was ruled that the puck had entered the net before the goaltender interference thus awarding Travis Konecny and the Flyers the goal. Martone was credited with the primary assist.
It was humorous that during the entire discussion of when the puck entered the net as opposed to when contact was made with the goaltender it never seemed to factor in that Konecny’s involvement with all of it appeared to be totally involuntary. He was totally thrown into the situation. When the secondary announcement was made team mates skated to the bench to congratulate TK on his 27th goal of the season and Martone on his 1st NHL point.
Porter Martone registered a team leading 9 shots on goal. Linemate Travis Konecny was in second with 5. These guys are clicking together.
Up Next: Friday night 7PM the New York Islanders host the Flyers. It’s yet another big game. A “four point” contest in the battle for 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division. If the Flyers win they tie Columbus one point out of 3rd.
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