Instant reactions: Travis Konecny’s BIRTHDAY GOAL propels Flyers to 4-1 victory

Watch PHLY Flyers Postgame

The Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals came into Wednesday’s national television matchup with 2.8% and 11% odds to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, respectively.

But while it wasn’t the highest event contest in terms of shots on goal, we saw a Trevor Zegras score a highlight goal to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead in the second to finish off an unconventional 2-on-1 with Owen Tippett, and some tense moments fueled by the physicality of Tom Wilson, with more penalty minutes in this game than you’d have expected.

And how about Sam Ersson? Making his second start since the Olympic break, and only his third start since January 29 (12 games), played solidly behind a stingy defense that allowed a 20th Capitals shot on goal 53 minutes into the game.

Yes, the Flyers picked up two points as they work to keep their slim postseason hopes alive, holding the Caps to one goal on 22 shots. Hey, maybe they can pull off the minor miracle and get in. That would be cool, I guess.

First period

Highlight: For the 44th time through 64 games, the Flyers have surrendered the first goal of the contest. Ryan Leonard scored on the power play for his 13th of the year, coming off the wall and snapping a shot by Sam Ersson to put the Caps up 1-0.

It’s truly unbelievable. Philadelphia has won 17 of the first 43, and have only lost 19 of the 43 in regulation, so it’s not like the game is over. But if you’re ALWAYS CHASING, there’s something wrong. The Orange & Black have trailed first in 69% of their first 64 games this season. Doesn’t even seem possible. For comparison, the Florida Panthers, who are two points behind the Flyers in the standings, have an even split, scoring first and allowing the first goal 32 times this season.

What I want to see next period: Let’s see some action. Despite trailing 1-0 through 20 minutes, it’s not like Philly was BAD. Shots were tied, 7 apiece, with the difference being the Capitals scoring on one of their two power plays, while the Flyers came up empty in their pair of man advantages. Washington did have a territorial advantage, out-attempting their hosts 23-15. The Capitals, despite their lowly place in the Eastern Conference, is 10th best in the league in scoring defense, allowing only 2.92 goals-per-game. If the Fly Guys are going to make this a game, they need to pick up the pace and spend some time in the offensive zone. Maybe staying out of the penalty box could aid in that pursuit.

Second period

Highlight: Travis Konecny scored himself a birthday goal to tie the game on a nice feed from Travis Sanheim, with Alex Bump also picking up his first career assist on the goal, but it was a great play by Owen Tippett to create a rush at the blue line, trading passes with Trevor Zegras as they approached Logan Thompson, with Tippett eventually laying it out ahead of Zegras, with Aliaksei Protas in hot pursuit of the closely bunched Flyers forwards, allowing Zegras put it home for his 21st of the season.

What I want to see next period: It’s getting pretty contentious out there. Tom Wilson rocked TK a couple shifts after Konecny’s goal, and Wilson has been noticeable, stirring the pot while also creating a breakaway opportunity, that Ersson denied, in that period. Even after the buzzer, Nikita Grebenkin and Sean Couturier were mixing it up with Wilson as the game was breaking for intermission. I’m hoping to see some fisticuffs, maybe even a melee, between these teams with very little chance of making the postseason. Take some frustrations out on each other! And do it on national television!

Third period

Highlight: Jamie Drysdale scored his seventh goal of the season to put the Flyers up 3-1 seven minutes into the third, capitalizing of a somewhat chaotic sequence in the offensive zone started by Zegras. While Ziggy didn’t pick up a point on the play, he was one of the catalysts, as was Noah Cates. Cates took the puck around the net and whether he meant to pass or the puck happened to roll out to Drysdale in the high slot after a wraparound attempt, earned his 21st assist of the season, tying last year’s total and putting him four away from his career-high 25 from 2022-23.

Final note: Somehow, the Flyers are 5-2-0 in their last seven games. It doesn’t feel like it, right? They’re still a long-shot, at best, for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they’re giving it a try. Seeing them win games out of the break, it just makes the 3-9-4 stretch from Januaray 8 – February 25 so much more depressing. This could have been a playoff team, ending a five-year drought. We could have seen postseason hockey in Philadelphia for the first time since 2018. Instead, it looks like it’ll just be another mediocre season in the middle of the league standings, with no games after April 14. Bummer.

Watch PHLY Flyers Postgame