Even with the NHL on pause for the Winter Olympics, Flyers fans still have plenty to watch for - and a few familiar faces to cheer on. Three key Philadelphia players are representing their countries on the international stage: Travis Sanheim is suiting up for a loaded Team Canada roster, Rasmus Ristolainen is anchoring the blue line for Finland, and Dan Vladar is in net for Czechia.
For Vladar, Friday marked a major milestone - his Olympic debut. Czechia turned to the Flyers netminder after a tough 5-1 loss to Canada the day before, with Lukas Dostal getting the start in that one.
The matchup against France was expected to be a bounce-back opportunity. On paper, Czechia was the clear favorite.
And early on, things were going according to plan. Czechia jumped out to a 2-0 lead heading into the second period, controlling the pace and looking every bit the stronger team. But then came a stretch Vladar will want to forget.
In a span of less than five minutes, France stunned Czechia with three unanswered goals - all coming on just seven total shots to that point. Louis Boudon sparked the comeback with two quick strikes early in the period, tying the game by himself. Moments later, Hugo Gallet beat Vladar to give France a shocking 3-2 lead.
It wasn’t the kind of Olympic debut Vladar had envisioned. A three-goal collapse in the second period, especially against an underdog opponent, raised eyebrows. But credit to Czechia - and Vladar’s teammates - for responding when it mattered most.
Midway through the third, David Pastrnak evened the score with a clutch goal, showing once again why he’s one of the most dangerous scorers in the game. Then came the turning point: with Czechia on the penalty kill late in the period, they forced a turnover and executed a flawless 3-on-0 break. Matej Stransky finished the tic-tac-toe sequence, giving Czechia a 4-3 lead and leaving French goalie Martin Neckar helpless.
That shorthanded goal not only swung the momentum but also salvaged what could’ve been a nightmare debut for Vladar. And while the second period left plenty to be desired, the final result - a win - keeps Czechia in the mix as they head into their final preliminary game against Switzerland on Sunday.
For Flyers fans, Vladar’s Olympic outing was a mixed bag, but it's important to keep the broader picture in mind. Since arriving in Philadelphia this offseason, he’s brought stability to a position that’s seen its share of turbulence in recent years. Through 33 games, he’s posted a 17-8-6 record with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage - solid numbers that reflect his overall impact, even with a few bumps along the way.
Friday’s game showed both sides of Vladar: the struggles that can come in high-pressure moments, and the resilience of a goalie who, despite a rough stretch, stayed composed enough to help his team pull out a win. He’ll get another shot to steady the ship when Czechia faces Switzerland - and you can bet Flyers fans will be watching.