{"id":511091,"date":"2026-03-19T08:13:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T08:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/511091\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T08:13:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T08:13:19","slug":"cates-plays-hero-for-flyers-after-late-tying-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/511091\/","title":{"rendered":"Cates Plays Hero for Flyers After Late Tying Goal"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Philadelphia Flyers<\/a> were less than two minutes away from the result they needed over the weekend, a regulation win. The Anaheim Ducks<\/a> put the Flyers back into a familiar situation just moments after an icing on a missed empty-net bid.<\/p>\n

The Flyers went to overtime for the fifth time in eight games in March. For the fourth time, they emerged as winners, as Noah Cates<\/a> scored on a broken play to give the Flyers a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

How It Happened<\/p>\n

The Flyers got on the board just 2:51 into the game. Cam York<\/a> helped win a puck battle in the corner and centered for Luke Glendening<\/a>, who scored his first goal as a Flyer.<\/p>\n

The Flyers extended the lead at 7:53 of the second. Travis Sanheim<\/a>‘s shot changed direction on the way to the net and Owen Tippett<\/a> was on the spot to put it home for his 23rd goal of the season. The Ducks cut the lead back to one in the final minute of the period, as Cutter Gauthier<\/a> scored his 35th goal on the power play off a turnover in the corner.<\/p>\n

With 1:54 to go in the third, the Ducks scored to tie the game. Vladar made a save off a face-off before the rebound went to Leo Carlsson<\/a> on the doorstep for his 24th goal of the season.<\/p>\n

A back-and-forth overtime ended with a broken play. The Flyers got a two-on-one chance after the Ducks flubbed an odd-man rush of their own. Cates juggled the puck on entry, then made the pass to Matvei Michkov<\/a>, who made the move but couldn’t finish. From behind the net, Cates was able to tuck in the loose puck off the pad of Lukas Dostal<\/a> for his 13th of the season.<\/p>\n

Box Score1st Period2nd PeriodPHI Owen Tippett (23) (Travis Sanheim) 7:53ANA Cutter Gauthier (35) PP (Pavel Mintyukov<\/a>) 19:223rd PeriodANA Leo Carlsson (24) (Troy Terry<\/a>, Gauthier) 18:06OvertimePHI Noah Cates (13) (Matvei Michkov) 2:17By the NumbersShots:\u00a0Flyers:\u00a027,\u00a0Ducks:\u00a036Power Play:\u00a0Flyers:\u00a00-for-4,\u00a0Ducks:\u00a01-for-4Faceoffs:\u00a0Flyers:\u00a056.0%,\u00a0Ducks:\u00a044.0%Goalies:\u00a0PHI\u00a0Dan Vladar<\/a>: 34 saves on 36 shots,\u00a0ANA Lukas Dostal: 24 saves on 27 shotsKey Performers<\/p>\n

\u2b50 Dan Vladar\u00a0\u2014 Vladar was stellar once again, making 34 saves and nearly delivering the Flyers a regulation win while protecting a one-goal lead in the third. Anaheim out-shot the Flyers, 11-4, in the third, and while Vladar did ultimately give up the tying goal, he’s the reason they were able to get the two points again.<\/p>\n

\u2b50\u2b50 Noah Cates\u00a0\u2014 The overtime hero, Cates made sure the Flyers didn’t waste the effort of their goaltender. His 13th goal of the season draws him to within three of his career high, and his 35th point of the season is also three away from a career high with 15 games to go.<\/p>\n

\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u00a0Cutter Gauthier\u00a0\u2014 Whether you are frustrated with Gauthier himself or the Flyers front office for the reasons Gauthier is not a Flyer, there’s no denying his skill level or talent. Gauthier delivered against the team that selected him in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, picking up a goal and an assist.<\/p>\n

The Takeaway<\/p>\n

All’s well that ends well, as the Flyers cough up the lead late, but get the two points anyway. Credit to Dan Vladar, who has been largely responsible for the Flyers picking up wins. The Flyers played a solid road game overall for two periods. But from the mistake made in the final minute of the second period, it seemed they were playing not to lose. Vladar bailed them out as much as he could, and with a second chance at the win after regulation, the Flyers got the desired result. It’s still a longshot in the standings, but the Flyers moved back to within six points of the wildcard with 15 games to play…including three against one of the teams they are chasing.<\/p>\n

Up Next<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Flyers are right back on the ice on Thursday night to take on the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 PM.<\/p>\n

Kevin Durso<\/a>\u00a0is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media\u00a0@Kevin_Durso<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Flyers Uniforms Through The Years<\/p>\n