The Philadelphia Flyers entered their first meeting of the season with the Pittsburgh Penguins hoping to build on the momentum of Saturday’s thrilling overtime win.
Unfortunately, the game quickly devolved into one of those nights where little went as planned, culminating in a sobering 7-3 loss. While there were flashes of promise, the Flyers were largely overwhelmed by Pittsburgh’s speed, precision, and ability to capitalize on mistakes.
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Special Teams Disparity
One of the most glaring aspects of the game was the absence of any powerplay opportunities for the Flyers. Over the full 60 minutes, the Flyers didn’t draw a single penalty, a statistical anomaly that underscored their struggle to put the Penguins under sustained pressure. (This game marks the first time ever the Penguins made it through a game against the Flyers without drawing a penalty.) Without a chance to capitalize on the man advantage, the Flyers were forced to rely entirely on their even-strength play—a tall order against a team as disciplined and opportunistic as Pittsburgh.
For the first time EVER in Penguins long rivalry with Flyers (353 games)
Pittsburgh recorded ZERO penalty minutes 😳
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) December 24, 2024
Conversely, the Penguins thrived on their ability to exploit tight spaces and create opportunities in transition. They pressed the Flyers into turnovers, pinned them in their own zone, and took full advantage of mistakes to widen the scoring gap, scoring on all three of their powerplay opportunities.
The disparity wasn’t solely a matter of officiating—the Penguins made it difficult for the Flyers to sustain offensive-zone time and force Pittsburgh into uncomfortable situations. Throughout this season, fans have seen the Flyers able to dictate the pace of play and generate tricky offense, but they were effectively stifled by the Penguins’ defensive efforts.
Defensive Breakdowns Prove Costly
The Flyers’ defense has already been through the ringer this season, having to deal with injuries and frequent pair rotation that has made it difficult to develop chemistry. Last night, the Flyers were frequently hemmed into their own zone, struggling to break free of Pittsburgh’s aggressive forecheck. Turnovers in tight corners led directly to scoring chances, many of which the Penguins finished with clinical precision.
The lack of clean breakouts and decisive puck management compounded these issues. Whether it was an ill-advised pass or a failure to control the puck under pressure, the Flyers gifted the Penguins opportunities that proved fatal.
Egor Zamula’s goal was a bright spot, showcasing his offensive instincts, but overall, the defense failed to maintain the structure necessary to compete against a team as offensively potent as Pittsburgh.
A Tale of Two Goaltenders
Sam Ersson started the game in net for the Flyers but was pulled after allowing five goals, making way for Aleksei Kolosov to step in relief. While the circumstances of Ersson’s departure were less than ideal, the decision to change goaltenders was as much about shaking up the team as it was about managing the situation.
Ersson, to his credit, made several key saves early in the game to keep the Flyers within reach, but the relentless pressure from the Penguins eventually broke through. Pittsburgh’s ability to generate high-danger chances in close proximity left little room for Ersson to recover, and while a few of the goals allowed were preventable, the breakdowns in front of him were glaring.
While things weren’t looking very optimistic by the time he took the ice, he showed flashes of potential. Facing a barrage of shots in quick succession, Kolosov held his ground admirably in difficult circumstances, including a sprawling save outside of his crease to keep the puck out of the net. His composure, despite the chaotic nature of the game, was a small positive in an otherwise challenging night.
The Flyers will have three days off during the NHL’s holiday break before flying out to the west coast to continue their road trip—starting with a highly-anticipated game against the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 28 at 4:00 PM.
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