Flyers’ Playoff Hopes Officially End With Loss to Canadiens
The Philadelphia Flyers were officially eliminated from playoff contention Saturday night after falling 3-2 to the Montreal Canadiens. Despite taking an early lead, the Flyers couldn’t hold on as Montreal scored three third-period goals to seal the victory. This marks Philadelphia’s fifth consecutive season missing the postseason.
Ryan Poehling provided one of the few bright spots for the Flyers, scoring his career-high 12th goal of the season against his former team. The 26-year-old center also added an assist late in the game, continuing his strong recent play. However, his efforts weren’t enough to overcome Montreal’s third-period surge.
The Flyers started strong, controlling play in the first period and taking a 1-0 lead into intermission. But the momentum shifted dramatically as Montreal outshot Philadelphia 22-16 over the final two periods. The Canadiens’ comeback was led by rookie defenseman Lane Hutson, who played a key role in Montreal’s offensive push.
With the loss, the Flyers’ focus now turns completely to the offseason and draft preparations. The team will have increased lottery odds to land a top pick in what’s considered a strong draft class. Management must decide whether to continue rebuilding through youth or make more aggressive moves this summer.
While Poehling’s development offers some optimism, the loss underscores how far Philadelphia still has to go to return to contention. The organization faces another critical offseason as it tries to end what’s now become a five-year playoff drought.
