Zegras’ 3-Point Game Boosts Flyers to a Bounce-Back Shootout Victory Saturday Afternoon

The Philadelphia Flyers had a nice bounce-back win against the New York Islanders Saturday afternoon, 4-3 in the shootout.

It was a fantastic game for Trevor Zegras, who scored twice, including his first goal as a Philadelphia Flyer. His linemate, Christian Dvorak, also scored for the Flyers, as their three combined goals were enough to get the game to overtime, and eventually the shootout.

All around, it was a much better performance for the Flyers, who struggled mightily against the Senators on Thursday – especially in the second and third periods.

The Flyers’ record improved to 4-3-1 through eight games this season. Here is how the game ended up with the final score.

Read More: Flyers Game 8, Back at Home; Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Islanders

1st Period

The first period started with a bang. Seconds into his first shift of the game, 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer took a big hit from Garnet Hathaway. Fast starts have been a point of emphasis for Rick Tocchet. The Flyers would not find that on Saturday.

Based on the eye test, the New York Islanders were clearly the better team in the first period.

The Islanders had a great chance early on, but a good back check from Nick Seeler stopped the Maxim Tsyplakov breakaway with his stick.

Matvei Michkov opted to pass to a smothered Owen Tippett instead of taking the shooting lane he had. Simon Holmstrom takes it the other way and scores the shorty.

Later on, it looked like Bobby Brink had a great chance late in the power play. He got the puck past Ilya Sorokin, but a pile of Isles cleanly stopped the puck. It was a hectic play – Tyson Foerster was pointing like the puck went in, but there was no goal.

A little later, it looked like Mayfeild might have gotten one back on Hathaway. The Flyers’ fourth-liner got a good hit on Case Cizikas, which prompted Mayfield to hit Hathaway along the boards. The two dropped the gloves in a heavyweight bout.

The fight had the arena the loudest it had been, but the Flyers were unable to capitalize, and the game would go into the first break trailing by a score.

2nd Period

It did not take long for the Islanders to extend their lead. The Islanders took advantage of an odd situation. Noah Juulsen tried passing the puck along the boards, but it was halted by the referee’s skate.

Anthony Duclair collected the puck and sent it to the middle, where bodies collided. The puck snuck out to Marshall Warren, who, making his NHL debut, sent the puck back to Duclair for the easy score.

Philadelphia looked lifeless again, but Trevor Zegras slowed things down and brought them back.

Zegras (6) showed great patience, finding a streaking Christian Dvorak (2) for the easy goal. The Flyers’ deficit was cut in half with 9:31 to go in the second period. Matvei Michkov (2) also earned an assist on the goal.

There was once again life for the Flyers.

3rd Period

The Flyers kept their momentum building, and Zegras and Dvorak connected once again for a goal to tie the game for Philly. This time, it was Zegras (1) from Dvorak (2) and Drysdale (3) connecting for the equalizer.

The score was not the only early fireworks.

There were plenty of extracurriculars in the opening minutes of the third period. After the whistle, there were tons of pushing and shoving between the two teams. Nikita Grebenkin was getting after multiple Islanders skaters. It looked like Mayfeild and Hathaway could give it another round. Schaefer even got involved. All four skaters were given two minutes for roughing.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Abols and Kyle MacLean each earned a five-minute major for fighting. It was a chaotic start to the period.

It looked like the Islanders had killed all the Flyers’ momentum after Maxim Tsyplakov (1) tipped home the Warren (2) shot and squeaked it past Sam Ersson. New York, once again, possessed a one-goal lead.

Just over three minutes later, Zegras continued his big game with a power play goal, cashing in on a Mayfield high-sticking penalty.

Brink came in with a great look on the man-advantage, and Zegras quite literally trickled the puck past Sorokin. With all of the bodies in front, it was hectic, and hard for anyone to locate the puck. It could have been Brink or Cates as well. The official scoring is Zegras (2) from Brink (3) and Cates (3).

The Flyers had once again tied the game in the third period.

There was a late push by the Flyers to end the game after 60 minutes, including a heck-of-a shift from Rodrigo Abols and the fourth line before time expired. Instead, the game went to an

Read More: PhHN Daily: Flyers Go Silent; Classic Sweaters; Heavyweight Tiltextra frame.

Overtime

The Flyers had possession for most of the opening minute of OT after Cates won the draw. They held the puck, skating in and out of the offensive zone before the Islanders even had a chance on the rush,

Sam Ersson came up with his biggest save of the game, robbing Bo Horvat. The Flyers had their own chance off the rush with Sorokin doing his part for the Islanders.

Going back the other way, Jamie Drysdale had a great poke check to end a Matthew Schaefer rush.

Both teams traded a few more chances, but neither could score, and the game would head to the shootout.

Bobby Brink went first in the shootout but was stopped by Sorokin. Bo Horvat had the same result. Zegras continued his big game and netted the shootout score, beating Sorokin on the low left side. Holmstrom made a great move to beat Ersson to even it at one. Matvei Michkov beat Sorokin, again to the low left, and Anthony Duclair’s final attempt was stopped by the pad of Ersson, and the Flyers came away with the 4-3 shootout win.

Flyer of the Game

Yeah, this one was never in question. Welcome to Philadelphia, Trevor Zegras.

Zegras had already made quite the first impression, tallying an assist in each of the Flyers’ first four home games and five points in his first six games with his new team. He went pointless in Ottawa, but bounced back with his best game this season.

The new Flyers scored two goals, both in the third period, as well as the primary assist on Christian Dvorak’s goal.

Zegras added a shootout goal on top of his three-point night, giving him eight points through eight games in Philadelphia. What a game for Trevor Zegras.

What’s Next for the Flyers

The Flyers will have Sunday off before practicing Monday, prior to their 6:00 p.m. puck drop against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Read More: Flyers Takeaways: Goaltending & Penalty Kill Gave The Flyers a Chance, Offense Went Cold