Flyers Clinch Playoff Spot with Shootout Win

Entering Game 81 of the regular season, the Philadelphia Flyers led the NHL with nine shootout wins. What was one more to end a five-year playoff drought?

Tyson Foerster's goal in the fourth round decided the game, as Dan Vladar made four saves in the shootout to secure a 3-2 comeback win over the Carolina Hurricanes and clinch a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

How It Happened

The Hurricanes opened the scoring at 8:41 of the first. A bad bounce in the corner got away from Rasmus Ristolainen and allowed Nikolaj Ehlers to center for a wide-open Bradly Nadeau for his third goal of the season.

With 4:30 left in the first, the Hurricanes added to the lead with a power-play goal, as Ehlers got in the goal column with his 25th of the season.

The Flyers got back to within one at 7:57 of the second period on their first shot of the period. Matvei Michkov took a great centering pass from Denver Barkey and scored his 19th goal of the season to make it 2-1.

On the power play at 10:30, the Flyers tied the game as Porter Martone set up Trevor Zegras for his 26th goal of the season.

After a scoreless third and overtime, Foerster scored the only goal of the shootout in the fourth round. Vladar made the final save on Alexander Nikishin to set off the celebration as the Flyers reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Box Score

1st Period

CAR Bradly Nadeau (3) (Nikolaj Ehlers, Sean Walker) 8:41
CAR Ehlers (25) PP (Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake) 15:30

2nd Period

PHI Matvei Michkov (19) (Denver Barkey, Noah Cates) 7:57
PHI Trevor Zegras (26) PP (Porter Martone, Tyson Foerster) 10:30

3rd Period

No Scoring

Overtime

No Scoring

Shootout

PHI Trevor Zegras - Save
CAR Jackson Blake - Save
PHI Matvei Michkov - Save
CAR Bradly Nadeau - Save
PHI Travis Konecny - Save
CAR K'Andre Miller - Save
PHI Tyson Foerster - Goal
CAR Alexander Nikishin - Save

By the Numbers

Shots: Flyers: 23, Hurricanes: 26
Power Play: Flyers: 1-for-2, Hurricanes: 1-for-1
Faceoffs: Flyers: 66.0%, Hurricanes: 34.0%
Goalies: PHI Dan Vladar: 24 saves on 26 shots, CAR Brandon Bussi: 21 saves on 23 shots

Key Performers

⭐ Dan Vladar — The goaltender who has been steady all season long had one more in him on Monday. With the playoffs hanging in the balance, Vladar allowed two goals on the first three shots of the game for Carolina, then shut the door the rest of the way, including in four rounds of the shootout.

⭐⭐ Tyson Foerster — Foerster's appearance in a playoff-clinching shootout wasn't even a thought two weeks ago. The first-round pick selected just weeks after the Flyers' last playoff appearance had his moment in the shootout.

⭐⭐⭐ Matvei Michkov — The spotlight tends to follow Michkov, and his goal in the second broke the ice and started the Flyers on the comeback trail. The 21-year-old has especially been a solid performer down the stretch.

The Takeaway

Can you believe it? The Flyers are back in the playoffs. Shades of 2010 on how they made it happen, a shootout win. This particular win in a wild comeback in the standings throughout the second half was especially driven by newcomers from last season and young players. Matvei Michkov scored the first goal. Porter Martone set up Trevor Zegras to tie the game. Tyson Foerster scored the shootout winner. Dan Vladar was stellar once again with the spotlight on him in the shootout. And man, you could see just how much this meant to all of the players, coaches, and management for an organization and fan base starving for playoff hockey. Well, now you've got it, Philadelphia. You have a playoff hockey team again.