The Flyers might finally have found their guy in net. Dan Vladar was calm, composed, and in control from start to finish last night, giving the team exactly the kind of stability they’ve been searching for. Every save looked clean, every rebound controlled and more importantly, he looked confident doing it.
It wasn’t just about stopping pucks, it was about presence. Vladar carried himself like a true starter, and it showed in how the Flyers played in front of him. For the first time in weeks, there was no panic when the opposition pushed. The defense trusted the goalie behind them, and that calm carried through the entire lineup.
That trust has been missing for a while. When Vladar’s in net, the Flyers play with a certain calmness; defensemen make simpler reads, the breakouts are cleaner, and the forwards look less afraid to take chances offensively. It’s the kind of stability that can quietly change a team’s entire rhythm.
And for Vladar, it’s been earned. After bouncing between backup roles in Calgary and Boston, he’s come to Philadelphia looking like a guy who’s ready for more. His size, positioning, and poise are finally clicking together, and it’s showing every night he’s in the crease.
At this point, there’s really no debate. Vladar’s earned the crease. He’s looked better, sharper, and more consistent than Ersson, and it’s time the Flyers give him a real stretch of games to run with it. The constant rotation hasn’t helped anyone and Vladar’s play is making the decision easier by the night.
But not everyone is trending upward. Matvei Michkov found himself riding the bench late once again, and it’s starting to become a pattern. The flashes of skill are still there, but the leash remains short. Whether it’s effort, defensive trust, or simply growing pains, the message from the coaching staff is clear: talent alone won’t buy ice time. It’s a frustrating spot for a player the Flyers see as part of their future, but right now, he’s learning the hard way.
Michkov played limited minutes in the third period but never saw the ice in overtime, a decision that spoke volumes. He wasn’t bad by any means earlier in the game; in fact, he showed some real spark offensively and generated a couple of strong looks. But once the game tightened up, the coaches turned to veterans they trusted more in defensive situations. That approach makes sense in theory, but it also raises questions about how Michkov is being handled.
For a 20 year-old with that much offensive upside, these are the kinds of moments you want him on the ice to learn, to make mistakes, and to grow. Instead, he’s watching them unfold from the bench. The Flyers keep talking about development, but sitting one of your most talented players when the game is on the line feels counterproductive.
It’s still early, and Michkov’s going to figure it out. But if this pattern continues, you have to wonder what message it sends  not just to him, but to the rest of the young players trying to earn trust in this system.
After a quiet start to the season, Tippett has put together back-to-back strong performances and now has goals in two straight games. He’s skating with confidence, playing with pace, and finally finishing the chances that weren’t going in earlier. Tippett looks like a player who’s found his rhythm and the Flyers desperately need him to keep it going.
He’s driving wide, cutting hard to the net, and forcing defenders to react instead of dictate. That’s when he’s at his best not overthinking, just playing fast and physical. The confidence is showing, too. Every shift looks purposeful, every touch has intent, and he’s starting to look like the consistent scoring threat the Flyers need him to be.
If Tippett keeps leaning into that combination of speed and strength, he won’t just be a bright spot he’ll be a tone-setter.
For the first time in a while, the Flyers might actually have some clarity at least in net. Dan Vladar looks like the steady presence this team has been missing, and giving him a real run as the starter feels like the obvious next step. You can’t build confidence or consistency without stability in goal, and Vladar’s calm demeanor is exactly what this roster needs to lean on.
Beyond that, the storylines remain split. Owen Tippett is starting to look like the player the Flyers hoped he’d become: fast, physical, and finishing plays with authority. Matvei Michkov, on the other hand, is still trying to find his footing, and the coaching staff has to find a way to help him do that without killing his confidence in the process. Benching your most skilled player in overtime might send a message, but it also risks slowing his growth.
In a lot of ways, this game summed up the Flyers perfectly flashes of progress mixed with familiar uncertainty. There are things to be encouraged by and things that still need to be figured out. But if Vladar keeps playing like this and Tippett continues to drive play, the Flyers might finally have something to build around.
The question is whether they can sustain it or if, once again, consistency will be the thing that slips away.