The Flyers earned a thrilling 5–4 shootout win Tuesday night in Montreal powered by a breakout first period from Bobby Brink, a rejuvenated power play, and another display of Trevor Zegras skill and creativity.
Brink wasted no time setting the tone, scoring twice in the opening frame to put the Flyers in control early. His timing, positioning, and quick release were on full display the kind of confident, assertive game that’s becoming his trademark. Brink isn’t trying to prove he belongs anymore; he’s proving he can drive offense at this level.
Trevor Zegras was at the heart of the Flyers puck movement all night. His passing and patience controlled the tempo, and late in the first period, he set up Cam York with a perfect cross-ice feed for a one-timer on the power play. The goal was a snapshot of how dangerous this unit can look when Zegras is the distributor of quick puck movement, clean zone entries, and purpose on every pass. For a power play that’s struggled much of the season, it was easily one of its sharpest efforts yet.
The Flyers third goal of the night was pure skill and timing. Late in the first period, Trevor Zegras slid a perfect cross-ice feed through traffic to Bobby Brink, who buried a one-timer for his second goal of the game and a 3–0 Flyers lead.
It was the kind of play that shows exactly what Zegras brings elite vision, patience with the puck, and the ability to make a high-danger pass look effortless. Brink didn’t hesitate, finding the open lane and finishing with precision.
For the first time in weeks, the Flyers power play looked dangerous. The puck was moving crisply, passing lanes were open, and shooters were pulling the trigger instead of hesitating. They weren’t just cycling, they were attacking with purpose, creating chaos in front and forcing Montreal to scramble. That confidence spilled into five-on-five play, where the Flyers simply outworked the Canadiens for long stretches. Their forecheck was aggressive, puck retrievals were sharp, and zone time came naturally. It wasn’t just a power-play adjustment it was a shift in mindset.
For all the positives in Montreal, Rick Tocchet’s lineup decisions continue to drag this team down. His forward pairings have been a revolving door mismatched, disjointed, and flat-out confusing. Since Tyson Foerster’s injury, the Flyers offense has looked like it’s trying to find chemistry on the fly every single night.
The most glaring issue is how Tocchet continues to mishandle Matvei Michkov. The 19-year-old has been one of Philadelphia’s most skilled offensive players since arriving, yet he’s still buried on the third line with defensive-minded grinders like Rodrigo Ābols and Christian Dvorak. It’s a waste of talent and a message that feels completely backward for a team supposedly focused on developing young stars.
Michkov has shown flashes of elite vision and finishing, but you can’t expect consistent production when he’s playing limited minutes and skating with linemates who aren’t built to create. He should be playing alongside offensive drivers like Zegras, Konecny, or Tippett not trying to manufacture offense out of board battles and dump-ins.
Meanwhile, Owen Tippett continues to log heavy minutes despite going six straight games without a point. He’s still getting top-line usage and power-play time, even as his production has gone cold. Michkov, on the other hand, has been making the most of limited shifts creating scoring chances and generating energy nearly every time he touches the puck. Yet Tocchet refuses to give him a real look in a top-six role.
Tuesday’s win was another reminder of what this team can be when its talent is allowed to play freely. The Flyers didn’t just outscore Montreal they outworked them, out-passed them, and finally showed confidence with the puck. Zegras controlled the game’s tempo, Brink buried his chances, and the power play looked alive for the first time in weeks.
But the problem remains at the top. Tocchet’s line management continues to stifle the players who should be driving this rebuild forward. Michkov deserves more than third-line minutes while a struggling Tippett keeps eating up ice time without production. There’s no clearer sign that the system, not the skill, is what's holding this team back.
The Flyers will look to keep the momentum going Thursday night in Ottawa.