Flyers clinch first playoff spot since 2020, will face Penguins in first round
The Philadelphia Flyers clinched their first berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2020 with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Monday evening.
In doing so, the Flyers ensured they will face their cross-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, marking the first time those two teams have met in the playoffs since 2018.
Tyson Foerster scored the shootout winner in the fourth round, while Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar stopped all four Hurricanes shots he faced. The Flyers currently sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with a 42-27-12 record and 96 points with one game still to play in the 2025-26 regular season.
The Flyers entered the second period of Monday’s game trailing the Hurricanes by a 2-0 score but battled back to tie it off of goals by Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras. Neither club scored in the third period, setting the stage for overtime and a shootout.
With Philadelphia’s win on Monday, both the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets were officially eliminated from playoff contention. Additionally, the full field of eight Eastern Conference playoff teams was set: In addition to the Flyers and Penguins, the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, and Carolina Hurricanes will all vie for a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Flyers and Penguins have met up in the playoffs on seven previous occasions, with Philadelphia winning in 2012,