Instant reactions: Trevor Zegras’ big night puts Flyers in command of Stanley Cup Playoff spot

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The Philadelphia Flyers came into Newark on Tuesday night with a one-point lead for the third seed in the Metropolitan Division, looking to build on that lead and sweep their season series with the New Jersey Devils.

Trevor Zegras gave Philly early life, scoring a pair of goals 3:38 into the game, and Tyson Foerster imitated his linemate in the next period, making the game 4-1 after 25 minutes of action with a couple goals of his own.

This wasn’t the sexiest 60 minutes of hockey the Flyers have played, but ultimately they come away with two points, the scoreboard looks good, and they have breathing room in the playoff race. I’ll take it!

First period

Highlight: Trevor Zegras scores a pair of goals, including one on the power play, in the first 3:40 of the game to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead. The first one was set up by an Owen Tippett individual effort to take the puck in the zone and around the net, finding Travis Sanheim as he cut into the slot on the short side, and the Sanheim fed Zegras on the backdoor. The second goal was off a beautiful pass on a power play rush from Porter Martone. Ziggy now stands at 25 goals on the season, a new career-high.

What I want to see next period: While the fast start was great, the Devils woke up, outshooting the Flyers 10-2 over the final 15ish minutes of the period. I don’t want to see them sitting back and hoping to just hold on, especially after Cody Glass cut the lead in half in the middle of the period.

Second period

Highlight: Tyson Foerster scores consecutive early-period goals for the Flyers to extend the lead to 4-1! After killing a too many men penalty they took 31 seconds into the period, Matvei Michkov, the designated bench minor box man hustled into the defensive zone and batted a puck off the wall up to Foerster in the neutral zone, sending him on a 2-on-1 that Dougie Hamilton decided to turn into a breakaway but not even attempting to defend the puck-carrier, and TyFo obliged, ripping a puck through Jacob Markstrom to restore the 2-goal lead. Foerster’s second came off some great puck movement by Michkov and Trevor Zegras to set him up with a mostly yawning cage.

What I want to see next period: No need to sag like at the end of the first and just sit in a shell, but be smart. Protect Vladar, short shifts, Road Hockey 101 stuff. Just don’t make this any more interesting than it needs to be. But if you have an opportunity to pad some stats, take it, obviously.

Third period

Highlight: Not a ton happened this period. Wirth five minutes left in the third, shots are 4-2 for the Devils. New Jersey pulls the goalie shortly after the puck dropped following a stoppage at 4:59, so it might get interesting here, but this was not a high-event game, despite what the highlights might suggest.

Final note: With the win, the Flyers are three points up on the Islanders for the Metro three-seed. There’s still over five minutes left in the Red Wings/Blue Jackets game, with the two bubble teams tied at two. If Columbus wins, they’ll be two points behind Philly. If they lose in OT they’ll be tied with the Isles, three behind the Orange & Black.

Watch PHLY Flyers Postgame