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The Flyers have indeed shown inconsistency and struggled in their return from the 2026 Olympic break (which paused NHL play for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in February).They entered the break on a rough note, losing 12 of their last 15 games beforehand, which dropped them well out of playoff contention in the Metropolitan Division (sitting in sixth with 61 points, tied near the bottom of the East).
Their first game back was on February 25, 2026, against the Washington Capitals—a 3-1 loss in D.C. It was disappointing and they showed signs of rust: the offense stalled (only one goal from Noah Cates to briefly tie it), they failed to capitalize on late chances, and overall energy felt inconsistent despite some pushback.
Goaltender Dan Vladar was solid, but it wasn’t enough against a desperate Caps team. This extended their skid to something like 13 of 16 in recent stretches, with low scoring (around 2.44 goals per game in that span).However, they bounced back somewhat the very next night (February 26) on the road against the New York Rangers, rallying from a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 overtime win. Matvei Michkov scored twice (including the OT winner), Trevor Zegras had a goal, and Samuel Ersson made key saves. It was a gritty, resilient effort after a shaky start, showing flashes of potential.Overall, the break was hoped to provide a reset after a disastrous January/early February slide, but the immediate result was mixed: rust and offensive woes persisted in game one, though game two offered a spark.
With the trade deadline approaching (March 6) and the team still mathematically alive but facing a steep hill (8+ points out), many observers note ongoing issues like inconsistent breakouts, poor puck management, depth scoring struggles, and questions around lineup decisions under coach Rick Tocchet.
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