Flyers defense falls to Hawks by: Jesse Bell

At the United Center on March 23, 2025, the Philadelphia Flyers faced off against the Chicago Blackhawks, ending in a decisive 7-4 victory for the home team. This game marked the final of four road back-to-backs for the Flyers this season, a challenging stretch that has tested their resilience.

Game Summary

The Flyers, holding a record of 28-35-9 (65 points), began the game with a strong performance, scoring three goals in the first period. This was a significant achievement as it represented their highest scoring first frame of the season. However, the Blackhawks, with a record of 21-41-9 (51 points), proved to be formidable opponents, matching the Flyers' early intensity with three goals of their own in the first period.

Goalscorers:

- Philadelphia Flyers:

- Jamie Drysdale (1 goal, 1 assist)

- Travis Sanheim

- Bobby Brink

- Travis Konecny (1 goal, 1 assist)

- Chicago Blackhawks:

- Patrick Maroon

- Joe Veleno

- Connor Bedard

- Tyler Bertuzzi

- Ryan Donato (2 goals, including one on the power play)

- Lukas Reichel

Notable Performances

Jamie Drysdale shone with his fourth multi-point game of the season, now ranking second among Flyers defensemen with six goals. He has been on a roll, tallying four points (3 goals, 1 assist) in his last eight games. Matvei Michkov also made headlines, registering two assists and becoming the fifth-fastest Flyers rookie in the last 40 years to reach 50 career points, joining legends like Eric Lindros and Peter Zezel in this elite company.

Travis Konecny continues to lead the Flyers in points this season with 68, while Bobby Brink tied his career-high in goals with his 11th of the season. Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster added to the Flyers' offensive efforts, both contributing assists and maintaining solid point streaks.

Goaltending and Defensive Efforts

In goal, the Flyers' Ivan Fedotov took the loss, stopping 21 of 28 shots. On the other hand, Chicago's Knight secured the win with 24 saves on 28 shots, showcasing his skills in critical moments.

Team Statistics

Despite the loss, the Flyers have shown resilience in recent games against the Blackhawks, holding a record of 4-2-0 in their last six encounters. However, their struggles in the second game of back-to-back series continued, extending their record to 1-10-1 in such situations this season.

Conclusion

The game highlighted both teams' offensive capabilities, with the Blackhawks ultimately outpacing the Flyers. As the season progresses, Philadelphia will need to build on their early-game success while addressing their challenges in back-to-back matchups. The performance of young stars like Michkov and Drysdale will be essential as they look to improve their standings moving forward.

Jesse Bell - Olde City Sports Network

Photo Credit - Kyle Ross/Imagn Images