Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save from Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (39) during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)
There are nights when you lose because you don’t show up. There are nights when you lose because the other team outclasses you in every way. And then there are nights like this—when you do just about everything right, and it still isn’t enough.
The Flyers went into Tampa and put together a game that, in most circumstances, should have been enough to get them at least a point. They skated with one of the most talented teams in the league. They played structured, disciplined hockey. They kept a Lightning offense that features Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point to just one goal against their goaltender. But when the final horn sounded, they had nothing to show for it.
There’s no sugarcoating it: a loss is a loss, and in a playoff race this tight, they can’t afford too many more of them. But this wasn’t a performance to be ashamed of. It was frustrating, absolutely—but not discouraging. The effort was there. The commitment was there. The execution, in a lot of ways, was there. The goals? Not so much.
1. Ivan Fedotov Was Outstanding
A lot has been said about Ivan Fedotov’s abilities. Since last season, there’s been a near-ceaseless debate over whether or not Fedotov is an “actual” NHL level goaltender.
You can have your opinions on that front, but one thing is undeniable—this was the kind of game that truly showed why the Flyers were so eager to bring him over from the KHL.
Fedotov was composed, sharp, and completely locked in. He tracked the puck well, controlled his rebounds, and made several huge saves to keep the Flyers in it as long as possible. He made 21 saves on 22 shots—the second goal, of course, was an empty-netter, meaning that in a game against an elite offense, Fedotov technically allowed just one goal.
The numbers speak for themselves, but they don’t tell the full story. Fedotov wasn’t just making routine stops—he was making game-saving ones. He was especially strong down low, flashing his long legs and using his 6’7” frame to his advantage. He made a handful of crucial pad saves on deflections and scrambles in front, keeping the Flyers within striking distance even when the offense wasn’t giving him any run support.
This was the kind of performance that gives a team confidence in their goaltending depth. With Sam Ersson carrying a heavy workload and the Flyers needing every possible point, knowing that Fedotov can step in and hold his own is massive. If nothing else, it’s a silver lining in an otherwise frustrating night.
2. The Offense Is Snakebitten—But Not Hopeless
At a certain point, there’s only so much you can say about the Flyers’ scoring struggles. It’s not that they aren’t generating chances. It’s not that they’re playing timid, uninspired hockey. They’re getting looks. They’re creating rushes. They’re buzzing in the offensive zone.
They just can’t buy a goal right now.
Call it bad luck. Call it gripping the sticks too tight. Whatever label you want to slap on it, the end result is the same: the puck is not going in the net. And at this stage of the season, that’s an agonizing reality.
It’s not for lack of trying. Travis Konecny had a couple of great chances but couldn’t solve Andrei Vasilevskiy. Matvei Michkov had some creative moments and nearly made something out of nothing a few times. Ryan Poehling had some promising rushes that either fizzled out at the last second or were stymied by Vasilevskiy. The Flyers played with energy, they pushed the pace, and they didn’t look like a team lacking confidence.
Philadelphia Flyers right wing Travis Konecny (11) passes the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at Amalie Arena. (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)
But this is the NHL. Sometimes, even when you do all the right things, you don’t get rewarded. And that’s the Flyers’ reality right now.
The important thing is that they’re not shying away from the fight. They’re still playing aggressive, structured hockey. They’re not curling up and retreating into their shells. If they keep generating chances at this rate, the goals will come. But in a playoff race where every point is crucial, they need those bounces to start going their way sooner rather than later.
3. The Process Is There—Now They Just Need the Results
When you zoom out and look at the bigger picture, this wasn’t a bad game for the Flyers.
In fact, it was one of their better all-around performances in recent weeks. They defended well. They held a high-powered Lightning offense in check. They got elite goaltending.
The issue is that at this time of year, moral victories don’t mean much.
The Flyers played well enough to win this game. But the standings don’t care about "well enough." They care about wins and losses, and right now, the Flyers are in a fight where every single point matters.
Final Thoughts
The good news? This team still believes. You can see it in the way they play, the way they battle, the way they refuse to roll over even when things aren’t going their way.
They’re skating with top-tier teams. They’re proving they belong in this race. And if they keep bringing this level of effort and structure, they’ll give themselves a chance to turn things around.
There’s no panic. There’s no collapse. There’s just a team that knows it’s capable of more, doing everything it can to find its breakthrough.
The Flyers don’t have time to dwell on this one. They’ll regroup, reset, and get back to work. And if they keep playing like this, their luck is bound to change.
At some point, the bounces will come. The goals will come. They have to. Right?
