Philadelphia Flyers Start 2026 with a Strong Win

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Philadelphia Flyers made a powerful start to 2026 by defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in their first game of the new year. This victory was no surprise, as the Flyers have been performing exceptionally well, boasting a record of 13-1-5 following a loss.

The win marked the conclusion of a five-game road trip that began in Chicago before the holiday break. The team finished the trip with a 3-2-0 record, securing their fourth win in the last six games. This strong performance highlights the Flyers’ ability to maintain consistency even on the road.

Denver Barkey’s First NHL Goal

Denver Barkey, who had been eagerly awaiting his first NHL goal, finally achieved it in his seventh game. His goal came after a brilliant play that showcased his skill and determination.

Barkey initiated the breakout from deep in the Flyers’ end by picking off Vasily Podkolzin along the end boards. He then skated the puck between the Russian winger and the net, passing it to Sean Couturier. As Couturier and Owen Tippett faced the Oilers’ defensemen two-on-two, Barkey took advantage of the situation to rush up the ice and score his first NHL goal.

This goal not only gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead but also marked the 13th time this season they have taken the lead, which is the fewest in the NHL. This statistic likely explains why the Flyers have the most wins when trailing, with a record of 13-9-5.

Building on the Lead

Travis Sanheim extended the Flyers’ lead to 2-0 after the Couturier line continued to dominate. After a missed pass from Barkey to Tippett, the puck bounced to Darnell Nurse, who sent it up the boards. Podkolzin failed to control the puck, and it found its way to Couturier near the circles.

Couturier quickly shot the puck, which was stopped by goalie Calvin Pickard. However, the rebound was sent to Sanheim, who scored his fourth goal of the season and 18th point of the year. Sanheim, who was recently named to Canada’s squad for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, showed his versatility and impact on the ice.

Bobby Brink added to the Flyers’ lead with his 11th goal of the season, just one short of his career high set last season in 79 games. Brink intercepted a stretch pass by Evan Bouchard and carried the puck into the Oilers’ end, eventually setting up Cam York for a goal that ended up going off the leg of Brink.

Resilience of the Oilers

Despite the Flyers’ strong performance, the Oilers proved to be a resilient team. Connor McDavid extended his point streak to 15 games with a breakaway goal on goalie Dan Vladař in the first period. Sanheim attempted a cross-ice pass to Couturier, but it was intercepted by Mattias Ekholm, who passed it to McDavid. McDavid then scored his 25th goal of the season and 1,153rd point of his career in 754 games.

In the second period, Michkov was called for high-sticking, giving the Oilers a power play opportunity. Just over a minute into the man advantage, Bouchard scored with a slapshot from the point. However, the Flyers remained composed and kept the pressure on, especially in the third period.

Final Moments and Key Plays

The Flyers capped off their victory with a goal by Nick Seeler off a faceoff win by Rodrigo Ābols and an empty-netter by Tippett. The team held the Oilers to just six shots on goal in the final frame, all coming in the last 6 minutes and 24 seconds.

Healthy Scratches and Other Updates

Defenseman Noah Juulsen and forwards Nic Deslauriers and Nikita Grebenkin were the healthy scratches for the game. Forward Garnet Hathaway returned to the lineup and engaged in a fight with Darnell Nurse in the first period.

Additionally, the semifinals are set at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. Jack Berglund and Sweden will face Heikki Ruohonen, Max Westergård, and Finland on Sunday. In the other semi, Czechia goes up against Jett Luchanko, Porter Martone, and Canada.

Upcoming Game

The Flyers will return home to face Ryan Poehling, Cutter Gauthier, and the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.