PHILADELPHIA – The Flyers’ Tyson Foerster was the only striker in the skills competition, his goal clinched a playoff spot for the Flyers. The goal gave the Flyers a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers and Porter Matone #94 celebrate their win over the Carolina Hurricanes
The Flyers have not been o the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2020. They will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.
“That’s a big win,” Flyers forward Owen Tippett said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. These guys in this room love each other. All the doubters all year, we believed right from the start, right from training camp. It’s going to be a blast, and we’re going to soak it all in. But the job’s not done.”
Dan Vladar made 24 saves through extra time, and stopped four shots in the penalty phase.
“‘Vladdy’ kept us in it, he never quit,” Foerster said. “We got the win, and we’re all fired up.”
Despite the loss, the Hurricanes clinched the top spot in the Metropolitan Division.
“That’s a huge accomplishment,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It says you had a real good year and you came to play every night. You can’t luck into that.”
Bradly Nadeau and Nikolaj Ehlers scored for the Hurricanes. Their goals gave the Canes a 2-0 lead in the game.
“I thought we were good,” Carolina forward Jordan Martinook said. “Thought we competed really hard. You know what that game meant to (the Flyers) … felt like we probably had the better of the chances. Proud of the guys that were playing tonight. We gave it our best and whatever it gets to the shootout, it’s flip of a coin. I was happy with it.”
The Flyers rallied back on their markers from Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras to force extra time, and the skills competition.
Brandon Bussi made 21 saves in the loss.
“Whatever many games we’ve done this, we’re missing a large portion of our group, and we just hung in there,” Brind’Amour said. “Tonight was problaby the best game of those that we played. It looked like how we should play, we just don’t get the extra point. But we had the opportunities.”
The members of the Philadelphia Flyers mob their goaltender Dan Vladar #80 to celebrate the win over the Carolina Hurricanes that advances the Flyers into the playoff for the Stanley Cup.
Tyson Foerster #71 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrate his goal during the shootout against the Carolina Hurricanes.
A shot by Tyson Foerster #71 of the Philadelphia Flyers get past Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes
Bradley Nadeau #29 of the Carolina Hurricanes waits for a rebound off goalie Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Christian Dvorak #22 of the Philadelphia Flyers waits for a rebound off Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes
Rasmus Ristolainen #55 of the Philadelphia Flyers checks Bradley Nadeau #29 of the Carolina Hurricanes
Jamie Drysdale #9 and Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers defend their goal against Eric Robinson #50 of the Carolina Hurricanes
Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers defends his goal against William Carrier #28 of the Carolina Hurricanes
Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes a glove save
Matvei Michkov #39 of the Philadelphia Flyers is congratulated for his goal in the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes.
A shot by Matvei Michkov #39 of the Philadelphia Flyers gets past Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes
Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes a stick save against Noah Cates #27 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Logan Stankoven #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes carries the puck past Christian Dvorak #22 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Nicolas Deslauriers #44 of the Carolina Hurricanes battles with Nick Seeler #24 of the Philadelphia Flyers for position in front of Flyers goalie Dan Vladar #80
Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes raises his stick to celebrate his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers.
A shot by Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes gets past Cam York #8 and Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Jordan Martinook #48 of the Carolina Hurricanes , Rasmus Ristolainen #55 of the Philadelphia Flyers and goalie Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes a save against Denver Barkey #52 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Bradley Nadeau #29 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate his goal against the Flyers in the first period.
Emil Andrae #36 of the Philadelphia Flyers checks and removes Bradley Nadeau #29 of the Carolina Hurricanes from in front of Philadelphia Flyers goalie Dan Vladar #80
Matvei Michkov #39 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Goalie Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes
Goalie Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers
