Travis Konecny scores a goal and adds an assist as the visiting Philadelphia Flyers beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3–1 at the United Center. Photo courtesy of Bill Meltzer of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny scored and added an assist while forward Trevor Zegras extended his point streak to nine games as Philadelphia defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 at the United Center on Tuesday. The loss extended Chicago’s losing streak to six games.

Konecny scored his 11th goal of the season in the first period after defenseman Wyatt Kaiser lost his man darting to the net and allowed a cross-crease pass from Zegras to find the Konecny for the early 1-0 lead. The goal, also assisted by Sean Couturier, beat Chicago goaltender Spencer Knight glove side.

As both teams continued to sleepwalk through the early part of the game, the Chicago crowd was only sparingly shouting “Green Bay sucks” as fans seemed disinterested with the paid practice they were watching on West Madison Street.

Travis Konecny – Philadelphia Flyers (11) pic.twitter.com/OnLaiTmIUK

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) December 24, 2025

Philadelphia extended its lead to 2-0 after Noah Cates netted his ninth goal of the season at the 11:13 mark of the second period. Cates found a loose puck after Konecny attempted to drag the puck to his stick and fanned on the attempt, only to find a Cates in front from an easy tap-in goal.

Chicago found a little life late in the second period after a few scuffles and pushing and shoving around the Flyers’ net led to a Ryan Donato goal at the 18:30 mark of the second period. The goal, Donato’s ninth of the season, was assisted by defensemen Matt Grzelcyk and Artyom Levshunov and cut the Flyers’ lead in half at 2-1 going into the second intermission.

Ryan Donato snaps an 11-game goal drought by scoring his 9th of the season. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/UkxQVdXnQN

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 24, 2025

Philadelphia would send the fans to the exits with an empty net goal at the 17:52 mark when head coach Jeff Blashill waived for Knight to come to the bench for the extra attacker, only to be surprised that Philadelphia was already in possession of the puck, and buried home its third goal of the game before Knight actually ever made it off the ice. The goal, scored by Carl Grundstrom, was his fifth of the season.

Knight stopped 23 of the 25 shots while Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced in the victory.

Chicago is back in action in Dallas on Saturday for a 7 p.m. start at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Analysis

Anyone watching this game, and recent games since his injury, that does not understand that this team’s blemishes this season have been covered up by the great play from Connor Bedard needs to have their eyes examined. Chicago is still a bottom-five team without their star and the defense just does not have the talent to compete on a night-to-night basis at this point in their careers. Growing pains are still coming as the “dog days of winter” are quickly approaching this young team.

Knight kept his team in the ball game but must watch his overpowered and outsmarted defensemen continue to give up easy chances in front of him. The 24-year-old should see out the back end of this rebuild with a strong mental game with the toughness he is providing for this current last-place team in the NHL.

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