Zibanejad’s Hat Trick Fuels Rangers’ Rout of Flyers, Extends Philly’s Slide to Six
PHILADELPHIA - The New York Rangers didn’t just beat the Flyers on Saturday - they blitzed them. Three goals in just 1:20 during a wild first period flipped the game on its head and set the tone for a dominant 6-3 win at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mika Zibanejad led the charge with a hat trick, while the Flyers were left searching for answers after their sixth straight loss.
Philadelphia actually struck first, but the Rangers responded like a team with something to prove - and they didn’t take their foot off the gas.
A Lightning Storm in the First
This one started loose, with both teams trading chances early. Defensive structure?
Not so much. That gave way to a flurry of rushes, and the Flyers were the first to cash in.
Travis Sanheim sparked the opening sequence, carrying the puck through the neutral zone before dishing to Trevor Zegras, who found Travis Konecny with a slick cross-ice feed. Konecny buried it past Spencer Martin - making his first start for New York - and gave Philly a 1-0 lead just 6:22 into the game.
But the Rangers didn’t just answer - they exploded.
Only 43 seconds later, Artemi Panarin was left wide open for a one-timer on a picture-perfect feed from Vincent Trocheck. Kolosov had no chance. Tie game.
Then, just 21 seconds after that, Zibanejad found space in the high slot and ripped one clean past Kolosov to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead. No screen.
No deflection. Just a laser.
And they weren’t done.
Less than a minute later, Will Cuylle picked up a loose puck off a missed shot and broke out with Brennan Othmann, who finished the rush with his first career NHL goal. Just like that, it was 3-1 Rangers - all in the span of 1:20, and all on their first three shots of the game.
That was all for Kolosov, who was pulled just 8:25 into the game. Sam Ersson came in to steady the ship, and while he made a few solid saves to close out the period, the Flyers couldn’t generate anything to cut into the lead before the horn.
Zibanejad Takes Over in the Second
The Flyers came out of the intermission with a little jump, looking to claw their way back in. But penalties - and Zibanejad - quickly erased any of that momentum.
First, a tripping call on Matvei Michkov put the Flyers on the penalty kill. They survived that one, but moments after returning to even strength, Sam Ersson flipped the puck over the glass, sending Philly right back to the kill.
This time, the Rangers made them pay.
Panarin threaded a pass through three Flyers defenders - a needle-threader of a feed - and Zibanejad was waiting. He didn’t miss. That made it 4-1 Rangers and gave Zibanejad his second of the afternoon.
Just three minutes later, he completed the hat trick. A clean give-and-go with J.T. Miller opened up space, and Zibanejad buried it to make it 5-1.
The Rangers weren’t done.
Panarin added one of his own, beating a lone defender before finishing with a smooth move to make it 6-1. It was total domination.
The Flyers did manage a short-handed goal late in the second, with Konecny springing Sanheim for a one-timer to cut it to 6-2. But by then, the damage was done.
The Rangers outshot the Flyers 13-6 in the period and took a commanding four-goal lead into the second intermission.
A Late Push, But Too Little, Too Late
To their credit, the Flyers didn’t roll over in the third. They pushed hard, generating several high-danger chances around the net.
Nikita Grebenkin nearly poked one in after a weird bounce off the boards. Michkov had a look in tight but couldn’t stuff it past Martin.
Konecny had a golden opportunity but was denied by a strong pad save. Zegras cranked a one-timer that just missed the mark.
Eventually, Zegras did connect - hammering home a one-timer off a feed from Owen Tippett and Denver Barkey to make it 6-3. But that was as close as they’d get.
The Rangers locked it down from there, and despite the late pressure, the Flyers couldn’t get another past Martin.
What’s Next
The Flyers now head west for a three-game road trip, starting Monday night in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights. With six straight losses hanging over them, this trip could be a defining stretch in their season.
As for the Rangers, they’ll take the confidence boost - and Zibanejad’s hat trick - and look to keep building momentum. When their offense clicks like it did Saturday, they’re a tough out for anyone.