On paper, the Philadelphia Flyers’ 3–2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights will be remembered as a single-point night—solid, not spectacular. But the performance itself offered much more to unpack.
Against a heavyweight opponent, the Flyers matched pace, matched pressure, and for long stretches matched control. The margins were razor-thin, the mistakes selective, and the special teams issues made themselves known in the midst of an otherwise commendable performance.
1. The Flyers Skated with Vegas—Comfortably, Consistently, and Without the “Surprise” Factor.
For the tenth time this season, the Flyers faced a top-tier team and looked like they belonged on the same sheet of ice. And, at this point, the framing of the question—“Can they skate with these teams?”—is outdated. They can. They do. They did again tonight.
Each period ended with identical goal totals and identical shot totals for both teams, a stat that neatly captures the rhythm of the game. Vegas tried to dictate with pressure and layers; the Flyers countered with pace, structure, and quick exits. The physicality wasn’t lopsided either. The Flyers absorbed and delivered, shift after shift, without blinking.
There was no stretch in regulation where they unraveled or chased. The game was played on equal terms—and that in itself should no longer be treated as a novelty.
2. Trevor Zegras Continues to Be One of the Flyers’ Most Consistent Sources of Offense.
Trevor Zegras’ integration into Philadelphia’s system has been one of the most compelling storylines of the season, not because he had to change who he is, but because he’s meshed his flair with a far more direct brand of hockey.
Sanny’s playing chess, not checkers.#VGKvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/A9fSgEuhbo
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 12, 2025
His first-period goal—his team-leading 11th—was another example of that blend: assertive, opportunistic, finished with calm.
Zegras now leads the Flyers in points (28), goals (11), and remains tied for the team lead in assists (17). He has six points in his last six games, and according to NHL Stats, only Chris Kreider and JJ Peterka have scored more goals this season among players skating with a new team.
He wasn’t a “try it and see what happens” addition. He’s become a central engine.
3. The Flyers’ Depth is Giving Them Real Value—Including Some Unexpected Offense.
Noah Juulsen picked a good night for his first goal as a Flyer. His second-period finish was the type of shot that requires awareness and confidence, and it came at a moment when the Flyers needed a jolt.
Christian Dvorak was at the center of much of that depth impact: two assists, now 14 on the season, and a point streak stretched to three games. He has five multi-point nights this year, including back-to-back ones against the Sharks and Golden Knights in the Flyers' last two games.
Carl Grundstrom added an assist of his own and now has points in consecutive games despite being only three games into his Flyers tenure. His physical, straight-line game has fit seamlessly on the fourth line, and that line—despite a production drought—looked more cohesive in all three zones.
4. Special Teams Fell Short Against Vegas.
For all the positives, the Flyers’ special teams kept them from taking control, and Rick Tocchet made it clear afterward that the issue was in the decision-making.
“We’re not getting middle shots," Tocchet said postgame. "We’ve got to get the middle shots… They’re having a tough time making a play. I know the coaches are a little frustrated because we’ve been like a broken record in practice and, for some reason, when the pressure is on, we kind of lose our bearings.”
(Attempting To) Fix The Flyers’ Power Play: Who Should Be Trusted With The Man Advantage?In the NHL, power plays are make-or-break. They swing momentum, pad leads, and save games that might otherwise slip away. And if you watched the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> last season, you don’t need a stats sheet to know their man-advantage was broken.
This wasn’t directed at any individual player. In fact, Tocchet explicitly dismissed the idea.
“It’s not just one guy; it’s everybody," he said. "We’ve got to keep grinding away… it’s not gonna take away from our five-on-five play, because I thought we played well, but we have to fix it.”
A power play goal could've easily tilted the game more in the Flyers' favor, and may have even prevented overtime. Instead, on Thursday night, it kept them from seizing momentum at the moments where Vegas was briefly on its heels.
The Bottom Line
The Flyers didn’t need to prove they could keep up with Vegas. They needed to show they could play a structured, disciplined game against a team that punishes hesitation and overthinking.
Zegras delivered offensively. Dvorak supported below the hashmarks and transitioned play with poise. Sanheim quietly stacked another strong night with an assist. Juulsen chipped in a goal. Murchison held his own in his second NHL game. Dan Vladar made the timely saves he needed to make.
The Flyers have done exceptionally well to prevent losing streaks this season, always able to take losses on the chin and collect themselves to get a better result in the next game on the schedule. A point against Vegas is nothing to sneer at, but this team has proven that they're always in the hunt for more.
