The Flyers finally broke through.
After opening the 2026-27 season with nine straight losses, Philadelphia picked up its first win on Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, outlasting the Ottawa Senators 3-1. Porter Martone, Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras scored for the Flyers, while Drake Batherson had Ottawa’s lone goal.
It took a while for the scoreboard to catch up to what Philadelphia was doing. The Flyers came out with one of their best opening stretches of the season, skating with more purpose, generating offense, and limiting what Ottawa could do the other way. The start still wasn’t spotless, but it was a clear step forward.
That early energy showed up quickly on special teams, as Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven sent a puck over the glass just 51 seconds in to give the Flyers the first power play of the night. The man advantage has been rough all season, and it didn’t produce a goal here either, but the entry from Denver Barkey and Tyson Foerster helped the unit look far more organized than it had been.
Philadelphia got another look midway through the period when Trevor Zegras drew a tripping call on Thomas Chabot. Again, there was no breakthrough, but the power play showed better structure. The Flyers later survived a scare after a neutral-zone turnover opened the door for Dylan Cozens in the slot, only for Dan Vladar to flash the glove and keep things scoreless.
Zegras briefly appeared to have the game’s first goal, but it was wiped out when he held Tim Stutzle. That ended with Ottawa getting a power play instead, though the Flyers killed it off and took a 0-0 tie into the first intermission after outshooting the Senators 14-8.
Philadelphia kept pressing early in the second, but Ottawa struck first. Sprung on the rush by Tim Stutzle (7), Cluaude Grioux (5) hit Drake Batherson (4) with a crossing pass for the one-timer goal.
With 14:05 to play in the period, the Senators were ahead 1-0.
The Flyers didn’t back off. They kept coming, and the tying goal arrived at 10:57 when Matvei Michkov (1) fed Porter Martone (2) for a finish that made it 1-1.
The game settled down for a stretch after that, but Philadelphia seized the next big opening. Carter Yakemchuk was called for interference on Tyson Foerster late in the period, giving the Flyers a chance to grab the lead before the horn.
They made it count. David Jiricek (2) set up Porter Martone (1) for the blast.
His shot went off the pads of Linus Ullmark and right to Matvei Michkov (4), who buried the second-chance effort for the power-play goal, giving the Flyers the 2-1 lead heading into the second intermission, with Philly outshooting Ottawa 25-16.
For Philadelphia, that made the third period a test of nerve. It was just the Flyers’ third time carrying a third-period lead this season, and Ottawa pushed hard to erase it.
The Senators came out with urgency and nearly tied it early, but a shot snuck past Vladar and clanged off the post to keep Philadelphia in front. Trevor Zegras answered with a hard shot of his own that Ullmark snared with the glove. From there, the game got choppier and less polished, with frustration building on Ottawa’s side as time slipped away.
A late delay-of-game penalty on Tyson Foerster gave the Senators one last power-play chance, but the Flyers weathered it. One stoppage later, Ottawa pulled Ullmark for the extra attacker, and that was enough room for Trevor Zegras (2) to seal it with the empty-netter and lock down the 3-1 final.
The Flyers stay home next and face the Colorado Avalanche at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Monday at 7:00 PM ET.
In Other News...
Flyers Youth Just Changed The Feel Around This Losing Streak
The Flyers finally broke through Tuesday night with a 3-1 win over the Ottawa Senators, and the mood around the room shifted with it. A nine-game losing streak can make every shift feel heavier than it should, but this one was built on the kind of energy the club has been trying to lean into, with Matvei Michkov supplying offense and rookie Oliver Bonk seeing meaningful ice time as Philadelphia got contributions from up and down the lineup.
Dan Vladar was steady enough to let the young group breathe, turning away chance after chance while the Flyers protected the lead and played with a little more conviction than they had during the skid. Michkov's power play finish gave the team the kind of lift it needed, and the bigger question now is whether this was just one clean night or the start of the kind of reset this roster has been chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Lose Another Key Forward As Early Scoring Pressure Builds
The early season injury churn around the league is already reshaping lineups, and Philadelphia has its own concern in the mix with Owen Tippett sitting out because of an upper-body injury. The Flyers have leaned on his speed and scoring threat through the opening stretch, so any absence there matters, especially for a team trying to establish some early offensive pressure and avoid falling behind in the standings.
Tippett was a game-time decision before ultimately not dressing, leaving the Flyers to absorb another blow up front without one of their more important wingers. He has one goal and one assist in nine games this season, a reminder of how much Philadelphia has been counting on him to drive chances while the rest of the forward group tries to fill the gap. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Offensive Struggles Are Raising A Bigger Question Up Front
The early offensive returns have only deepened the sense that the Flyers are still searching for a real play-driving presence up front. Through the first stretch of the season, they have had a hard time finishing chances, and the attack has been stuck in a familiar place, with too many nights where two goals is close to the ceiling rather than the baseline. Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster and Trevor Zegras have all been part of that conversation, not because they have been singled out for blame, but because each has been asked to help lift a group that still lacks a clear high-end scorer.
Christian Dvorak fits into the same broader question, which is whether the current roster is made up mostly of useful complementary pieces who need a more dynamic linemate to look their best. The Flyers can survive stretches like this if the overall team game stays tight, but the bigger concern is what happens when the offense needs someone to tilt the ice and there is no obvious answer on the roster. For now, that leaves the front office and coaching staff weighing whether the fix is internal growth, a new combination, or something more significant up front. [Read more 🡒]