Tyson Foerster scored the only goal of the shootout which featured an extra round to give the host Philadelphia Flyers a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Carolina Hurricanes in the penultimate game of the regular season for both teams.
By earning the two points, the Flyers clinched their first playoff appearance since 2020.
Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras scored in regulation for Philadelphia (42-27-12, 96 points), who have won five of their last six. Dan Vladar stopped 24 shots and all four of Carolina’s shootout attempts.
Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and an assist and Bradly Nadeau got the other goal 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 18 saves.
Carolina’s Jackson Blake hit the goal post 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.
Zegras’ power-play goal with 9:29 left in the middle period tied it. He 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 (seven points on three goals and seven assists).
Nadeau scored on Carolina’s first shot 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. His 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 Washington and Columbus from the playoffs. 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.
