The Philadelphia Flyers did not end 2025 the way that they wanted to. They were dominated by a bottom-of-the-barrel team in the Calgary Flames. The final score was 5-1, but the Flyers did not even put their lone goal in off their stick. Travis Konecny’s goal was pushed over the goal line by Nazeem Kadri. It was not a pretty game for Philadelphia, one that needed to be flushed quickly.

After their New Year’s Eve showdown, the Flyers had two days to forget that loss before their first game of the New Year. On Saturday, Philly took on the Edmonton Oilers to begin the 2026 slate, and they opened the New Year on the right foot. It was a complete team win.

Read More: Flyers Fend Off Oilers Push, Hold on for 5-2 Win on Saturday

Flyers start the New Year on the right foot

Early in the game, the Flyers were hemmed in their own zone for a good minute and a half or two. It looked like the New Year was going to start just as 2025 came to an end. However, that was not the case. After being challenged early on, the Flyers settled in and went off for a three-goal first period.

Two of the Flyers’ first three goals came from the hard areas of the ice. It’s once again proof that getting to those areas is key to Philadelphia’s success. First, it was Denver Barkey scoring from the low slot, with nobody between him and the goaltender, but everyone on his tail. Bobby Brink’s goal is proof that good things happen when you get in front of the net. Brink did not do anything, but because he was in front of the net, the puck took a favorable bounce and got to the back of the net. Good things happen when you get to the net.

And look how hard Barkey worked on his goal. I mean, he started the rush out of the camera frame, then worked his way to leading the final charge to the net. It was about as on-brand a goal for Barkey as it gets, so it’s fitting that that was his first.

The other of the three goals in the first period came from Travis Sanheim, who scored from the right-side circle, jumping on a loose puck for the unassisted goal.

Read More: Former Flyer Suspended by New Team

Complete team win

Connor McDavid was just ridiculous on Saturday. To be fair, that’s not a shock. There is a real reason why he is the world’s best player. He contributed a goal and the perfect assist, bringing the Oilers back to 3-2.

Calvin Pickard had a shutdown second period in goal, and you could not tell which way things were going to go. All of a sudden, the Oilers had all of the momentum heading into the final 20 minutes of the game.

The Flyers have had a tendency to fall apart late in the game. They back in and break down, making it easier for opponents to either come back or pile on. That did not happen on Saturday.

While it was not the three-goal first period, the third looked like the Flyers’ best period of hockey. Defensively, the Flyers looked sharp. They played well while the Oilers had the extra attacker. Not to mention, Dan Vladar came up clutch once again, making big stop after big stop. He made 22 saves on their 24 shots.

The Flyers even got a big goal from an unlikely scorer.

Nick Seeler scored his first goal in over a year just over halfway through the third period. His last goal was on December 31st, 2024, against the San Jose Sharks. Seeler almost had his first goal of the year on Wednesday during the team’s New Year’s Eve showdown with the Flames, but it was called back. So, Seeler went all of 2025 without a goal, but got one in his first game of 2026, and it was a big one.

One could say, he “Seeled” the win for the Flyers (I am sorry for that joke), putting them up 4-2, leading to the Oilers emptying the net not long after. Owen Tippett hit the empty net, and the Flyers won 5-2.

It was the perfect, complete team win for the Flyers, starting 2026 on the right foot. This Flyers team is for real.

Read More: PhHN Daily: Denver Barkey Scores; Egor Zamula Suspended; Jack Hughes, the Winger?