Flyers nip 'Canes in shootout, clinch first playoff berth in 6 years

Tyson Foerster scored the only goal of a four-round shootout, giving host Philadelphia a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday and sending the Flyers to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras scored in regulation for Philadelphia (42-27-12, 96 points), which wrapped up third place in the Metropolitan Division. Dan Vladar stopped 24 shots and wasn't beaten on any of Carolina's shootout attempts as the Flyers won for the fifth time in six games.

The Flyers will open the postseason with a series against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins.

Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and an assist and Bradly Nadeau also tallied for the Hurricanes (52-22-7, 111 points), who clinched the top spot in the Eastern Conference with the point despite the loss. Brandon Bussi made 21 saves as Carolina fell to 6-1-1 in the past eight games.

The contest was the penultimate game of the regular season for both teams.

Carolina's Jackson Blake hit the goalpost while cutting across the slot about 1:15 into the five-minute overtime period.

Philadelphia scored twice in the second period to tie the game 2-2.

Michkov put the Flyers on the board 7:57 into the period when he scored from the left circle skating toward the net after taking a cross-ice pass from Denver Barkey.

A power-play goal with 9:29 left in the middle period tied it. Zegras took a pass below the right circle, had the time to take a couple of strides to his left and put a shot past Bussi. Porter Martone assisted on the goal to stretch his point streak to five games (three goals, four assists).

Nadeau scored 8:41 into the game. He connected on a one-timer from the slot, converting Ehlers' pass from behind the net. Ehlers' power-play goal with 4:30 left in the opening period made it 2-0. The shot from below the right circle and along the goal line caromed in off of Vladar.

Ehlers' 25th goal came 25 seconds after Christian Dvorak went off for holding.

The win by Philadelphia eliminated the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets from the playoff contention. Those two teams battle in Columbus in a meaningless game on Tuesday.

The Hurricanes rested Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, captain Jordan Staal, Andrei Svechnikov and defensemen Jaccob Slavin and Shayne Gostisbehere in anticipation of the upcoming playoffs.

--Field Level Media