Devils Fall to Flyers Despite Late Push: Defensive Lapses, Missed Chances Prove Costly
The Devils had their moments, but against the Flyers, it was the kind of night where every mistake seemed to end up in the back of their net. A handful of defensive breakdowns, some missed opportunities, and a red-hot Dan Vladar in goal for Philadelphia combined to hand New Jersey a frustrating loss - one that highlighted both their potential and their growing pains.
Defensive Breakdowns Lead to Flyers Goals
It started early with a miscue in the neutral zone. Simon Nemec got turned around trying to track Owen Tippett, who took advantage of the space and buried the game’s opening goal. It was a tough moment for the young defenseman, who had already taken a penalty earlier in the period.
Later, it was Matvei Michkov who found the back of the net just as he exited the penalty box. Nemec had sagged back responsibly, but the forwards - Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer - didn’t rotate up to cover, leaving the Devils exposed in transition. That’s the kind of miscommunication that turns into a grade-A scoring chance - and Michkov didn’t miss.
Then came a pivotal swing in the second. Jesper Bratt rang a shot off the post on a breakaway, and before the Devils could regroup, the Flyers were off to the races the other way.
The result? Another odd-man rush, another puck in the back of New Jersey’s net - this time off the stick of Trevor Zegras.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe didn’t mince words.
“We give up a breakaway coming out of the penalty box because the forwards are forcing the issue as time on the clock is expiring on the penalty,” Keefe said. “It shows where we need to grow.
… It’s with good intentions. Our guys are trying to do the right things.
They’re trying to make plays. They’re trying to be on offense.
And in some cases, they’re trying to close when guys get by them. That’s where we have to get better.”
Devils Generate Chances, But Vladar Slams the Door
Despite the defensive miscues, the Devils weren’t without their chances - especially late. After Mercer scored to cut the Flyers’ lead to 4-3, New Jersey poured on the pressure.
They drew two power plays and peppered Vladar with everything they had. But the Flyers’ netminder stood tall, turning away every chance in the third period.
Timo Meier summed up the frustration.
“We didn’t do it consistently enough over 60 minutes. We let them get behind us too much.
Gave up way too many chances. … We had a good push.
It wasn’t even. We would have liked to convert on the power play at the end.
It was not the way we wanted this game to go.”
Mercer’s Highlight-Reel Goal
If there was a silver lining for New Jersey, it was Dawson Mercer. He scored what might be one of the best goals of his young career - and one that’ll be on highlight reels for a while.
It started with a defensive play. Zegras tried to chip the puck around Mercer in the neutral zone, but Mercer stepped up, played the body, and took control.
From there, he was off. He weaved through two Flyers defenders, cut to the net, and slid a backhander five-hole on Vladar.
It was a slick, confident finish - and a great read on how to beat a goalie who had already stoned him earlier in the game.
Earlier, Mercer had another golden chance on a 2-on-1 with Hischier. After a quick give-and-go, he had Vladar beat - or so it seemed.
The Flyers goalie pulled off a full split to get his pad on the puck. Mercer adjusted the next time around, opting to go through the five-hole instead of trying to beat Vladar to the post.
Smart play, better finish.
Game-Changing Moments Go Against New Jersey
There were two turning points that really swung this game.
The first came late in the opening period. With the score tied 1-1 and the Devils on the power play, they had a pair of golden looks.
Hischier was denied by Vladar’s pad with 15 seconds left, and Meier was turned away at the buzzer. Instead of heading to the intermission with momentum, the Devils watched the Flyers score just after the penalty expired to take a 2-1 lead.
The second came midway through the second period. Down 3-1, Bratt broke free and had Vladar beat - until the post got in the way.
Seconds later, the Flyers capitalized on the counterattack to stretch the lead to 4-1. What could’ve been a one-goal game quickly became a three-goal hole.
“Things happen. Chances go both ways,” Mercer said.
“Bratt had a great chance and hit the post. It’s unfortunate it went back and ended up in the back of our net.
Things like that can change the outcome, but it can go either way.”
Keefe echoed the sentiment but stressed the need for better game management.
“Just because you miss a chance at one end doesn't mean they get a freebee going the other way,” Keefe said. “You still have to play the game.
That puck could have easily fallen in our favor, but then you can't just open up the ice and let them have their way down the other end. That's how you lose games.”
Nemec’s Redemption
Despite his early struggles, Nemec didn’t fold. In fact, he was the one who got the Devils on the board.
Jumping into the play as the late man, Nemec found open ice above the circles, opened his hips, and ripped a shot past Vladar to tie the game at 1-1. It was a confident, heads-up play - and a good example of the kind of offensive instincts that make him such a promising young defenseman.
Bratt Climbs the Franchise Ranks
Jesper Bratt quietly hit a milestone in the loss. His assist on Nemec’s goal was his 470th, moving him past Neal Broten for eighth on the Devils’ all-time assist list. He’d add another later in the game, bringing him within one of Bobby Holik, who sits seventh with 472.
It’s a reminder of just how consistent Bratt has been over the years - and how important he remains to this team’s offensive engine.
Bottom Line: The Devils showed flashes of what they can be - fast, skilled, and dangerous in transition. But the Flyers made them pay for every mistake, and New Jersey couldn’t quite finish the job when it mattered most. The effort was there in spurts, but the execution - especially defensively - still needs to tighten up if they’re going to turn these kinds of games into wins.