Missed chances to make the right statement tighten playoff noose for Flyers

PHILADELPHIA -- Travis Konecny stood in front of a bevy of reporters to answer questions following the Flyers 3-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, arguably the biggest Flyers game in years.

And what he said was exactly true. 

"It's not like we were going to win out the rest of the year," he told the throng. "We lost one game against an opponent who was above us. It's frustrating. It is what it is. You just regroup. That's all you can do."

He's right. The Flyers were not going to go on a 16-game winning streak to end the season. No one expected that. If they were going to somehow find a way to make the playoffs this season, they were going to have to do so while navigating a few losses, no doubt. 

But there are things that were not said by Konecny, or anyone else postgame, that were equally as true.

• Practically every other team the Flyers needed to lose in the playoff race, did on Tuesday, and they didn't take advantage. 
• By losing Tuesday, the margin for error became ever smaller and you can't have that happen, especially against teams you are chasing.
• In the biggest games, the teams best players need to meet the moment, and none really did. 

And that last one is the most damning for this Flyers team. 

The Flyers put out their ballots for team awards this week. It's almost a sure bet that Dan Vladar will win the Bobby Clarke Trophy as the team's MVP. 

And he didn't have a particularly bad night against the Blue Jackets, but it was apparent that he felt like he should have stopped each of the first two Columbus goals, which came 1:44 seconds apart at the start of the second period, as it turns out, the two most crucial minutes in this 60-minute hockey game.

Mathieu Olivier's goal that tied the score 1-1 came on a 3-on-2 rush and was a snap shot from the right circle that beat Vladar over his glove. 

It was a good shot and placed in a precise location. But Vladar had a clear look at it, and just didn't snare it. He makes that save nine out of 10 times. 

Mathieu Olivier - Columbus Blue Jackets (15) pic.twitter.com/xy1CZuiwBN

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) March 25, 2026

And then on the second goal, Zach Werenski, who very well could win his first Norris Trophy this season, found some time and space in the center of the ice that the Flyers neglected to defend well in the moment (they did for defend it well for much of the rest of the night) and Werenski got off another good shot from a high percentage scoring area. 

Vladar has made a name for himself as one of the better goalies in the NHL this season in stopping high danger scoring chances. His 10.85 goals saved above expected (GSAx) ranks in the top half of the league, although it has dipped slightly since returning from his January lower-body injury from where it was in the first half of the season when he was consistently ranked in the 5-8 range in the NHL.

And while no one will fault Vladar and say he should have had this one on Werenski, it's also the kind of big save that playoff teams get from their goalie in crucial moments. 

Zach Werenski - Columbus Blue Jackets (21) pic.twitter.com/WgpuW1LAnX

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) March 25, 2026

The mistake on this play probably belongs more to Owen Tippett than anyone, as both he and Denver Barkey went to the same man, leaving Werenski with all that room in the middle of the ice, but it's on breakdowns like that were Vladar has saved the Flyers bacon countless times this season. He just didn't on Tuesday. 

But putting the loss on the shoulders of Vladar would be wrong. And maybe mentioning him first is burying the lede of this story, but the Flyers played a brilliant first period, and only led 1-0. There were myriad chances to score goals and they couldn't finish. 

"We should have been up 3-0 at least," coach Rick Tocchet said in his postgame press conference. "You've got to score when you get those opportunities. Some teams don't need a lot. We probably need a lot."

The opportunities he was talking about were a breakaway by Tippett that was thwarted by Jet Greaves, and two chances by Noah Cates -- one on a wraparound attempt that Greaves was able to slide across the crease and make a skate save to stop, and a second on a penalty shot.

Jet Greaves denies Noah Cates on a penalty shot. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/PpbVy0uDRL

— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) March 24, 2026

All three were golden opportunities for the Flyers. Score on one, you probably get at least one point in the standings. Score on two, you probably win the game outright and are sitting just three points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand and a ton of momentum going in your favor heading into a game Thursday against a bottom-feeding Chicago squad. 

But it didn't happen. 

And just like Vladar, it would be remiss to put blame on just Tippett and Cates as well. At least they had opportunities. 

A couple of rookies had rough nights. Denver Barkey had a great chance on a 2-on-1 and instead of shooting the puck tried to make a pass that didn't connect. Alex Bump whiffed on a chance on a shot from the left circle with some traffic at the net, and then stumbled after retrieving the puck and turned the puck over. 

But the guys who are the leading scorers on the team or who are supposed to be the go-to guys for offense, just didn't generate much of anything until the made a push in the game's final minutes, but the team was desperate at that point and down two goals.

This was a game for Konency to make a statement. He talked about a month ago about being tired of missing the playoffs. He has willed the Flyers forward so many times this season, battling through injuries -- even scoring a hat trick on one leg -- but in a game with the most on the line, Konecny's game was uneven. 

Trevor Zegras, who has been an offensive catalyst all season, and who the Flyers are trying to sign to a long-term deal, didn't have a big enough bite at the apple in this one. 

And until the closing minutes, when he seemed to be buzzing, Matvei Michkov was invisible. 

Sean Couturier scored the first goal for the Flyers as the re-united fourth line with him centering Luke Glendening and Garnet Hathaway had some life in the contest, and Jamie Drysdale scored a goal with the goalie pulled to get the Flyers back within a goal late, but otherwise the chances either were missed or didn't materialize as the Flyers needed them to if they were going to let everyone know that they believe they belong in the postseason tournament.

Now they can probably scratch Columbus off the list of teams they are trying to catch in the playoff race. They are still five points out of a playoff spot, six in the Metropolitan Division, with at least a game in hand on everyone, so there is still a path to get there, but it was already narrow and thanks to the missed opportunities that were right in front of them on Tuesday, that path is like walking a tightrope without a net beneath them.

"I think there was a little bit we left out there as far as offensively," Konecny told reporters. "There were a few times that lines got some momentum, but we didn't ride it that long."

Another accurate statement, it's just a shame that they waited until after the game to make all of them.