Flyers Snap Skid with Gritty Win Over Red-Hot Golden Knights
The Flyers walked into Monday night’s matchup as +170 underdogs against the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights, who were riding a seven-game win streak. On paper, it looked like a tall task. But on the ice, Philadelphia delivered a much-needed response, grinding out a 2-1 win that snapped their own six-game losing streak - and they did it with a mix of resilience, opportunism, and a goaltender who picked the perfect night to have his best game of the season.
Travis Konecny’s Breakaway Brilliance
Travis Konecny was the difference-maker. Not once, but twice he found himself behind the defense and buried both breakaway chances with authority - two unassisted goals that turned the tide and gave Philly the edge they needed.
It wasn’t just the goals, though. It was the timing.
The awareness. The execution under pressure.
These weren’t fluky bounces or lucky redirects. Konecny created his own chances and finished them like a player who knew his team desperately needed a spark.
Head coach Rick Tocchet didn’t mince words afterward: “TK was awesome.” That about sums it up.
Ersson Stands Tall
With Dan Vladar still sidelined, Sam Ersson got the call in net - and delivered a performance that felt like a throwback to the ‘90s. He stopped 24 of 25 shots, including a barrage during seven Golden Knights power plays.
That’s right - seven. Against the fourth-ranked power play in the league.
And Ersson didn’t blink.
This wasn’t just a bounce-back game. It was a statement.
Ersson had allowed 15 goals over his previous four appearances, and his season save percentage sat at .860 coming in. But on this night, he looked composed, confident, and in control - all while facing one of the league’s most dangerous man-advantage units.
“He’s not feeling sorry for himself,” Tocchet said. “He’s facing it head-on.”
That mindset paid off in a big way.
Special Teams Still a Concern
While the Flyers’ penalty kill did enough to survive the night, allowing seven power plays against a top-tier unit is playing with fire. Tocchet acknowledged as much postgame, noting that while the kill came up big - thanks in part to a morning presentation from assistant coach Todd Reirden - the team has to clean up the discipline.
At 77.9% on the kill this season, the Flyers are hovering around the middle of the league. It’s not disastrous, but it’s not going to cut it if they keep giving opponents this many chances.
A Win They Had to Have
Let’s be real - this isn’t a sustainable formula. You can’t rely on two breakaway goals and your backup goalie standing on his head every night. But for a team that had dropped six straight and was watching the standings tighten around them, this was the kind of gritty, gutsy win that can reset a locker room.
And it came at the right time. The Flyers are three points out of the final Wild Card spot, but also just six points from the bottom of the conference.
With Utah on deck Wednesday and the league-leading Avalanche looming Friday, the next two weeks are going to be critical. Points won’t come easy, and every game is going to feel like it carries playoff weight.
Monday night wasn’t perfect. But it was a step in the right direction - and a reminder that this team still has some fight left in it.