PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Flyers’ three-game winning streak ended with a thud at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Monday, as the Pittsburgh Penguins outclassed them in nearly every facet of the game in a 5-1 final that felt even more lopsided than the score. The Penguins’ top-ranked power play torched the Flyers’ penalty kill for three goals, while Philadelphia’s only score came on a two-man advantage.

Playing their fifth game in eight nights and first at home after a four-game road trip, the Flyers often had trouble connecting on simple passes and were easily pushed off pucks. After about the 10-minute mark of the first period, the Penguins controlled the bulk of play. It was only fitting that Philadelphia villain Sidney Crosby’s second-period power-play marker stood up as the eventual game winner, one of two goals for Crosby.

It was even a rough night for the Flyers’ steadiest player this season. Goaltender Dan Vladar allowed all five goals on 27 shots in suffering his first loss in his last five starts in what was undoubtedly his worst game to this point.

Even more concerning was the loss in the second period of Tyson Foerster to injury.

Less than a minute after Foerster’s goal on a five-on-three advantage tied the score, 1-1, at 5:36 of the middle frame, Foerster had the puck on a tee at the top of the circle with a chance to give the Flyers a lead while still on the power play. As his one-timer was stopped by Tristan Jarry, Foerster fell to his knees in pain on the follow-through. He skated straight to the bench and up the tunnel, favoring his right arm, while slamming his left glove down in apparent frustration.

That Foerster appeared to hurt his right arm was notable, as he had surgery to remove an infection in his elbow on that side in the offseason, after he was initially hurt at the World Championships in May, playing for Team Canada. He missed most of Flyers training camp in September while recovering. The forward also missed four games in November after blocking a shot with his left ankle.

Tyson Foerster just got hurt taking a one timer and man it does not look good. Hope for the best 🙏#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/Tlr087Ydck

— Flyers Clips (@Flyers_Clips) December 2, 2025

There were no updates on Foerster’s condition after the game. According to a Flyers team source, about an hour after it ended, the club was still awaiting more information.

Foerster not only leads the Flyers with 10 goals, but he’s also become as important a player as they have on the roster. The 23-year-old entered the game third among Flyers forwards in ice time per game (17:52), while skating on the top power-play unit and second penalty-killing unit, too.

Before Saturday’s Flyers game in New Jersey, coach Rick Tocchet detailed what has made Foerster such an important cog, particularly offensively, calling the release of his shot “elite.”

“He gets to the holes quick,” Tocchet said. “We’re trying to get guys to get to the inside. … Seems like he gets the shot off but also arrives on time for that pass. He’s one of those guys that gets what we’re trying to do.”

Tocchet added: “He’s a guy that we really rely on.”

Several of Foerster’s teammates expressed concern for him.

“He’s been playing great all year,” captain Sean Couturier said. “Hopefully, he’s all right.”

Said Travis Konecny: “That’s tough. He’s such a big part of the team, the locker room, everything. It’s definitely difficult. We’ll see where that’s at.”

Noah Cates, who has been stapled on a line with Foerster for just about a calendar year, said: “Sucks seeing a teammate go down. He’s such an important part of our team, our core, special teams and everything like that.”

Foerster’s proficiency in playing a 200-foot game is reflected in The Athletic’s NHL award tracker, which lists him at sixth overall in the race for the Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward. “Tyson Foerster is creating a name for himself with another strong defensive season,” Dom Luszczyszyn wrote.

The Flyers wouldn’t be able to replace what Foerster brings if he’s out for an extended period of time. But it could open the door for a young player or two to take on more responsibility.

Rookie Nikita Grebenkin played in his 16th game of the season, but he’s been used almost exclusively in a limited fourth-line role, posting one goal and two assists. On the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, prospect Alex Bump, 22, is the AHL team’s second-leading scorer, with 16 points (4 goals, 12 assists) in 20 games. Perhaps he’s done enough to be considered for a recall.

Carl Grundstrom, acquired from San Jose in the Ryan Ellis salary dump just before the season, could be another option. Grundstrom, who turned 28 on Monday and has 293 games of NHL experience, played Nov. 8 for the Flyers against Ottawa when Foerster was out previously. In 19 games with the Phantoms, he has 6 goals and nine assists for 15 points.

In a league in which injuries have plagued so many teams this season, the Flyers have avoided anything significant. They’ll have to hope Foerster won’t be out long, or maintaining their current pace — they’re 14-8-3 — will be an immense challenge.

But they’ll at least have a chance to find their legs again quickly, as the middling Buffalo Sabres visit Wednesday before the Flyers get a three-day respite ahead of Sunday’s home matinee with the Colorado Avalanche. While they weren’t pleased with their effort against the Penguins — Cates referred to it “sleepy,” with “not a lot of focus and not a lot of jam” — there was at least a recognition that this was always going to be a difficult game to play considering how packed their schedule has been for the past week and a half.

“It’s definitely tough coming off the road and just one day (off before) getting back at it,” Cates said. “We’ve all been around for a while. We know what we need to do to be ready and be prepared for the different rigors that the NHL season brings.”

Said Tocchet: “You’ve got to win tired. A lot of teams play (five games in eight days). I can’t use it as an excuse, but I understand guys are tired. … We had a chunk of guys that, I don’t know, they just weren’t in it tonight. But, it’s a learning lesson.”