The 2026-27 Philadelphia Flyers have now lost five straight games to start their season. And somehow, the fifth defeat — despite its ignominious nature — was the least concerning of the bunch.
Carter Yakemchuk’s power play goal for Ottawa with 6:59 left in the third period broke a 1-1 tie and led the Senators to a 2-1 victory over the flailing Flyers, who have yet to win a game this season and dropped to 0-3-2. However, unlike their four other losses, the Flyers were not crushed territorially or outshot dramatically. It was a loss, but a normal loss — unlike the statistical blowouts that were their standard over the season’s first week.
Matvei Michkov scored the Flyers’ only goal of the night — Philadelphia’s first power play goal of the season. Joseph Woll also delivered his third straight impressive start as a Flyer, making 24 saves on 26 shots. But he was outplayed by his counterpart Linus Ullmark, who stopped 28 of 29 shots in his return from injury to continue his stellar start to 2026-27.
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9 Comments (7 conversations)
Marc
I’d keep York on the 3rd pair until he consistently starts playing better. Drysdale with Sanheim makes too much sense to split them up again.
Woll has been tremendous. Crazy to think it could be worse, but without him, it would be…
ifollowcharlieo
York is clearly a 3 or 4. He is not a 3rd pair guy. Drysdale is a 3 right now with upside to be a 2. He’s certainly by far the best choice for first pair duties right now. I assume Tocc tried York first because he was trying to get all three pairs right.
jimmyb
Looked like a different team last night. And Woll has been everything one could hope for thus far. Jiricek looked a lot more comfortable too.
I suspect most of the guys took it easy this summer. And then I started wondering to myself last night if the offer sheet to Carlsson maybe de-motivated some of them this summer. As in, wow, I’m pretty underpaid compared to what DB offered Leo and what others got signed for afterwards. I’m not excusing it, and these guys get paid a fortune, but just wondering if Relatively Large Extension in 2025-6 + Even Bigger Contracts Elsewhere = Lower Hunger Level.
Richard Niittula
We need a top center badly. Not sure how but it’s got to be done
Richard
Yes, this is a gaping hole in the roster. The Tocchet system is not high scoring, and without a legit 1C it’s even worse.
Justin Park
“Their routes through the neutral zone became muddled” – this is what stands out to me. They still look a mess in the neutral zone – on both sides, but particularly offensively. Seemingly no chemistry or cohesion going into the O-zone which kills chances before they even start for the Flyers.
Michael Sheahan
How sad is this article. With the expectations we had coming into the season, here we are after five games, and we are to be glad that “some positive signs are emerging”? Do you mean the team is actually playing the way they get paid to do, and so far have not done much of that? Our local newspaper just ran an article about how boring our pro teams are right now. I could not agree more. It seems we need to see a new way to compensate players, that is maybe a more incentive laden type of contract. I know it’s a dream but let’s face it. This team, and this city is sick of watching overpaid players just show up, lose, and then make lame excuses. Good luck selling this product. We need BIG changes.
Bob MCH
Now 0 and 6. Bruins 5, Flyers 1, on Saturday. Very good start, truly, the only way this franchise is ever going to get their hands on a 1-C. Tankathon, baby. Should have happened three or four years ago, but at least they are doing what they have to now, to get that elite center. Hopefully, the Toronto pick will also be a top five pick, so we can also get a 1-D in the same draft. Brilliantttttt!!!! Way to go DB and Jonesy! Their other strategy of adding around the margins and picking project centers in the pick 12 to 20 area was never going to work, never going to land the superstar 1-C and 1-D. Finally, finally, they get it. Lose ’em all, grab the pillars for an eventual cup run for the next decade. Excellent.
David LaVeck
“Fool’s gold” indeed we would find out but still I could live with the team if they showed up like this every night. I was impressed with Michkov’s overall game which has come a long way, I just hope that he can sustain it over a full season. Woll has been a revelation in goal and has definitely been a great signing so far.