Flyers relinquish late lead, but sink Ducks in OT

Field Level Media|published: Thu 19th March, 01:12 2026

Mar 18, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (55) moves in for a shot against Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Noah Cates scored at 2:17 of overtime as the Philadelphia Flyers extended their road win streak to five games with a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.

Cates banked in a rebound of a Matvei Michkov shot off the left skate of Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal and just inside the right post at the end of a 2-on-1 break for the game-winner.

Luke Glendening and Owen Tippett also scored for Philadelphia (32-23-12, 76 points), which moved to within six points of both the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Dan Vladar made 34 saves for the Flyers, who won for the fifth straight time against the Ducks and the seventh time in the last eight meetings.

Cutter Gauthier scored a power-play goal and had an assist and Leo Carlsson also scored for Anaheim (37-27-4, 78 points). Dostal finished with 24 saves for the Ducks, who moved into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division with the overtime point.

Philadelphia jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 2:51 mark of the first period on Glendening's first goal since Feb. 23, 2025, against Seattle while playing for Tama Bay. Cam York stole the puck by the left boards and then wheeled and fired a pass to Glendening in front of the net where he roofed a backhand shot past Dostal's blocker side.

The Flyers increased the lead to 2-0 midway through the second period when Tippett, left alone in front of the crease, tapped in a rebound of a Travis Sanheim shot from the left point into a wide-open right side of the net.

On a power play, Anaheim cut the lead to 2-1 with just 38 seconds left in the period when Gauthier lifted in a backhanded shot from the low slot off a pass from Pavel Mintyukov for his team-leading 35th goal.

The Ducks pulled Dostal for an extra attacker with 2:25 remaining and Carlsson tied it with 1:54 to go, slamming in a rebound of a Troy Terry shot inside the right post.

The Flyers almost won it about 10 seconds later when Glendening deflected a Garnet Hathaway shot off the left post.

--Field Level Media

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