Philadelphia Flyers Face Defeat Against Washington Capitals
The Philadelphia Flyers returned from the 2026 Olympic break with hope for a fresh start, but instead found themselves staring down another frustrating loss on the road. In their first game back in action, the Flyers fell 3-1 to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on February 25, 2026, dropping their record to 25-21-11 and extending a skid where they've now lost six of their last seven games.
The contest was a gritty, low-scoring affair through the first two periods, fitting for two teams shaking off rust after the international tournament pause. Washington struck first in the second period when defenseman Rasmus Sandin, ending a 40-game goal drought, beat Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar to make it 1-0. Sandin's rare tally came after a period of tentative play from both sides, with neither team able to generate much sustained pressure early on.
Philadelphia's response came just 29 seconds into the third period, and it felt like a spark that could ignite a comeback. Noah Cates, who had gone 18 games without a goal, redirected a point shot from Travis Sanheim past Capitals netminder Logan Thompson. Bobby Brink picked up the secondary assist on the play, his 12th helper of the season and part of back-to-back assist games for the young forward. For Cates, it was his 11th goal of the year and his first career marker against Washington—a small but meaningful personal milestone in an otherwise tough night.
Sanheim, fresh off winning a silver medal with Team Canada at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, looked sharp in his return. The veteran defenseman notched his 19th assist of the season on Cates' goal and has now recorded assists in consecutive games against the Capitals. His poise from the blue line, honed against the world's best during the Olympics where he earned regular shifts by the gold-medal game, was evident as he quarterbacked the play that tied the score.
But the Flyers couldn't hold the momentum. Washington regained the lead at 14:08 of the third when Trevor van Riemsdyk, ending his own lengthy 38-game goal drought, poked home a feed from Declan Chisholm (with Aliaksei Protas assisting) to make it 2-1. The Capitals sealed the win with Protas' shorthanded empty-net goal at 19:34, his 20th of the season, as Philadelphia pulled Vladar for the extra attacker in a desperate push.
Vladar kept the Flyers in the game with 26 saves on 28 shots, but Thompson was steadier at the other end, turning aside 23 of 24 Philadelphia attempts. The Flyers managed only 24 shots total, struggling to create high-danger chances consistently against a Capitals team that has won five of its last six.
Milestones added a bittersweet layer to the night for Philadelphia. Defenseman Noah Juulsen suited up for his 200th NHL game, a solid achievement for the depth blueliner in a rebuilding phase for the club. Yet the broader context remains challenging—the Flyers sit further outside the playoff picture after this result, especially with the season series against Washington now split (Philadelphia took the earlier meeting 4-2 earlier this month).
For a team that showed flashes of promise before the break but has faltered lately, this loss highlighted ongoing issues: finishing around the net, sustaining pressure after tying games, and avoiding late collapses. Washington, meanwhile, capitalized on defensive miscues and got timely contributions from unexpected sources—exactly the kind of opportunistic hockey that wins close games.
The Flyers now face the tough task of stringing together consistency in the final stretch of the regular season. With Sanheim bringing Olympic-level confidence, Cates snapping his slump, and younger players like Brink contributing, there's talent in the room. But execution and resilience will need to improve quickly if Philadelphia wants to salvage anything meaningful from the 2025-26 campaign.
- Jesse Bell/Olde City Sports Network
- Photo Credit: Matt Perretta/Olde City Sports Network
