Looking for a strong start to their home slate, the Philadelphia Flyers faced the undefeated Florida Panthers in their first game at the newly renamed Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philly on Monday.
Spoiler alert: the Panthers are no longer undefeated.
The Flyers were awarded an early power play to start the game when Aaron Ekblad took a two-minute minor for slashing Christian Dvorak. Unsuccessful on the advantage, the Flyers would then head to the penalty kill after Owen Tippett was caught slashing Gustav Forsling. The Flyers were able to defend against the Panthers’ power play and continued to be aggressive on the forecheck.
Sean Couturier managed a nifty shot on Panthers’ goaltender Daniil Tarasov, but Tarasov was able to make the save. The first period was extremely active, with each team creating fast rushes and good looks at the opposing goaltender, with both Tarasov and Dan Vladar holding their ground.
The Flyers looked strong and in control of the puck nearing the halfway mark of the period, especially when they turned a blocked shot in their own zone into a goal from Tyson Foerster, assisted by Couturier.
First on home ice? That belongs to Tys. #FLAvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/iYrWX8wqOe
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 13, 2025
With a one-goal lead, the Flyers continued to pounce on the “cats” and save every advance the Panthers had. The home team finished the first period with strength and looked to carry the positive vibes into the second.
The Flyers did a good job to start the second period, but lost a bit of momentum after a face-off win by Sam Reinhart. Transferring momentum back, the Flyers tallied two more shots on goal before Couturier was sent off for hooking. Vladar was challenged by the Panthers’ power play unit, but protected his crease valiantly.
When Sam Bennett was handed a two-minute minor for tripping, the Flyers’ power play was active, peppering Tarasov with shots and attempts, but to no avail. Although the Panthers stole some of the momentum back, the Flyers held their own against the undefeated reigning champions. A potential missed call for a trip against Tippett as he attempted a backhanded shot sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Still unfazed by the Panthers’ attacks and attempts, the Flyers remained in control. A great play to force a turnover by Travis Sanheim sent Travis Konecny up the ice. The following pass to Couturier put the Flyers up two goals. The Panthers were not thrilled by their deficit, picking a fight just as the puck dropped to restart the game.
Continuing to hog much of the momentum, the Flyers would head to another power play, as Seth Jones’ attempt to clear the puck resulted in him being sent to the box for delay of game. With just over 30 seconds remaining in the period, a shot by Reinhart missed the net, but pulled Vladar out of the net. As the puck seemed stuck to Reinhart, he was able to slip it under Vladar to score the Panthers’ first goal of the night—shorthanded.
After a bit of back and forth on the sheet to start the third, Matvei Michkov allowed the Panthers an early power play. Fortunately for the Flyers, the Panthers only managed one real shot on goal during the advantage. The Panthers managed to keep the puck in their possession for a decent stretch after their power play ended. The Panthers also proceeded to get more and more aggressive as the game continued.
With just under 12 minutes remaining, Brad Marchand was taken down by Tippett, leading to a delayed penalty against the Flyers. During a scuffle in front of Vladar, one of the Flyers managed a touch, ending the six-on-five. With 45 seconds remaining in the power play, Reinhart once again drew Vladar out of position, but this time passed the puck to Bennett, who scored the equalizer.
A questionable call on Garnet Hathaway forced the Flyers to attempt to kill another penalty. As the one-minute mark passed on the penalty kill, Bennett was sent to the box for a slash on Noah Juulsen, subduing the Philadelphia crowd’s anger for a moment.
Trevor Zegras was active during the power play, refusing to give up. Just after the advantage expired, Zegras continued to fight for his team: deking Bennett and Ekblad to send the puck to Couturier, who found the third goal for the Flyers.
Z put it on a TEE. #FLAvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/uXIKmYtrTO
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 14, 2025
Tarasov left the net with just over three minutes remaining upon an offensive zone face-off for the Panthers. Once the puck found its way down the ice, the Flyers struggled a bit, but Bobby Brink was eventually able to force the puck into the empty net after Noah Cates’ shot went wide.
Couturier, seemingly disinterested in a hat trick, sent the puck over to Sanheim, whose shot was tipped by Dvorak for another empty net goal.
Sean Couturier had himself a night and, deservingly so, earned first star of the night.
Sometimes, a team just needs its hometown crowd to fight for a win. The Flyers definitely utilized the Philadelphia vibes to support them on Monday night and hand the Panthers their first loss of the season.
“Just use the energy of the crowd.”
The packed barn propelled Tyson Foerster to tally the first goal of the game.#FLAvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/m1LUvD9R2A
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 13, 2025
The Philadelphia Flyers will play again on Thursday, October 16 at 7 p.m. against the Winnipeg Jets.
