Flyers pick up win No. 40 to fuel playoff push with four games to go – NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEWARK, NJ — The Flyers had no downside holding their foot on the gasoline Tuesday evening of their quest to finish a five-year playoff drought.

They took care of the Devils, 5-1, at Prudential Center.

Trevor Zegras surprised New Jersey with two objectives within the first 3:38 minutes of the sport. Tyson Foerster then added two objectives in the course of the second interval, giving him three in his four games again from an arm injury that cost him four months.

“We’ve missed him all year,” Owen Tippett mentioned. “He has put in the hard work to get back in time. I think part of that kind of relied on us, too. It’s great to see him back out there smiling and having a good time.”

Nick Seeler buried an empty-netter from lengthy vary to shut issues out.

“These are the games that you want to play with each other and for each other,” Seeler mentioned. “It has been a blast. I feel this group has come together since the Olympic break greater than ever.”

Zegras completed with a three-point evening. Matvei Michkov assisted each of Foerster’s objectives. The Flyers improved to 9-0-0 this season when Michkov information a multi-point recreation.

Just two days later moving into playoff positionthe Flyers (40-26-12) did not squander the momentum. They constructed on it, profitable their third straight and for the fifteenth time within the final 21 games (15-5-1).

The Flyers swept the Devils (40-35-3) of their three-game regular-season collection, outscoring New Jersey 16-7.

• Rick Tocchet’s membership stayed within the driver’s seat Tuesday evening.

With four games remaining, the Flyers nonetheless maintain the ultimate playoff spot (third place) within the Metropolitan Division.

They remained two factors up on the Blue Jackets, who rallied for a 4-3 shootout win Tuesday evening over the Red Wings. The Islanders had been idle, so the Flyers padded their lead on New York to three factors.

The Flyers additionally prolong their lead on the Capitals to 5 factors.

“We believed all year that we could be in this position,” Tippett mentioned. “The job’s not done yet, we’ve got to continue going. We’re having a lot of fun as a group in here.”

The Flyers entered Tuesday with a 57.4 % likelihood to make the playoffs, in accordance to Hockey-Reference.com’s probabilities report. That ought to enhance come Wednesday morning.

“It feels like almost for a month now we’ve been playing must-win games,” Zegras mentioned. “We’re definitely getting more comfortable and definitely settling in a little bit, for sure.”

Trevor Zegras scored his twenty fourth and twenty fifth objectives of the season early on within the Flyers’ recreation Tuesday evening towards the Devils.

• Dan Vladar continued to play just like the Flyers’ spine.

“Vladdy was outstanding,” Seeler mentioned.

I’ve transformed 23 saves into 24 pictures. The 28-year-old has given up simply three objectives over the Flyers’ three-game win streak.

With New Jersey on a second-period energy play and making an attempt to get again into the sport, Vladar made four saves within the span of 31 seconds. That stored the Flyers forward 4-1 at second intermission.

“Vladar made an unreal couple of saves on the PK,” Tocchet mentioned. “Who knows if it goes in there, so I’ve got to give him a lot of credit.”

The Devils woke up after their dangerous begin and Vladar had to deny 9 pictures within the first interval. New Jersey scored when a shot ricocheted off Cody Glass in entrance, however the Flyers nonetheless led 2-1.

They restored order within the first 5 minutes of the second interval.

Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom stopped 14 of 18 pictures.

Tippett made a nifty stop-and-go transfer to file a secondary help on the Flyers’ game-opening aim. Porter Martone assisted the second aim, which got here on the ability play. It was the 19-year-old’s fourth level in 5 games since I signed his entry-level deal.

“He’s a moose,” Zegras mentioned. “For a young kid, he plays a very mature game. I’ve had a lot of fun playing with him and he has been a great addition to the power play.”

Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale every had an help on the evening, as properly.

Tyson Foerster scored his twelfth and thirteenth objectives of the season within the second interval Tuesday evening towards the Devils.

• Zegras’ first aim gave him a brand new profession excessive and the second added to it.

He now has 25 objectives and he is only one level away from passing his profession excessive of 65 set with the Ducks in 2022-23.

The Flyers have to be thrilled with the return on their big offseason trade.

“He wants to make the playoffs, he hasn’t played a playoff game,” Tocchet mentioned. “I think he wants to prove a lot of people wrong. He has played with a chip on his shoulder this year and I love that he has played with a chip on his shoulder. He pushes the pace and he’s a real good locker room guy.”

Trevor Zegras, who set a brand new profession excessive in objectives with his twenty fourth and twenty fifth, and Rick Tocchet spoke after the Flyers’ win over the Devils.

• The Flyers had a rookie on three of their four traces.

Martone was on the second line, Alex Bump on the third and Denver Barkey on the fourth.

“Love seeing the young guys in these spots, how they’re dealing with it,” Tocchet mentioned earlier than the sport. “They’re having fun, that’s the whole part of it. Don’t be scared of it; go attack it.”

• The Flyers are again in motion Thursday once they go to the Red Wings (7 pm ET/NBCSP+).