![\"Tyson](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/USATSI_28646023-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPHILADELPHIA \u2014 Travis Konecny, chaos gremlin that he is, was apparently keeping one corner of his eye focused on the half-dozen local media members sitting in the stands at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
Konecny knew what was coming. Tyson Foerster, previously believed to be out for the remainder of the regular season with a shoulder injury, took a line rush with Trevor Zegras and Owen Tippett ahead of a pivotal game against the Detroit Red Wings. It was a pretty blatant sign that Foerster, who had been skating with the team for a few weeks, was surprisingly ready to return after a 49-game absence.<\/p>\n
Tweets needed to be tweeted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was getting a crack out of watching you guys scrambling to your phone in line rushes,\u201d Konecny said in the dressing room, after the skate\u2019s conclusion. \u201cI was watching all of you guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old Foerster\u2019s return brought some extra exuberance to a group that\u2019s now as healthy as it\u2019s been this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuys were buzzing,\u201d coach Rick Tocchet said of the morning skate. \u201cHe\u2019s a big part of our team.\u201d<\/p>\n
That buzzing continued for most of Thursday\u2019s game, too \u2014 even if it resulted in a frustrating 4-2 defeat. Playing in front of a juiced-up home crowd that\u2019s pining for playoff hockey, the Flyers outplayed the Red Wings for much of the evening to the tune of a 72-39 advantage in shot attempts and a 4.96-2.67 edge in expected goals, per Natural Stat Trick.<\/p>\n
Yet, too many defensive miscues and not enough offensive finish burned them. It was the Flyers\u2019 second straight regulation defeat. And although many of the other teams battling for playoff position in the Eastern Conference also lost on Thursday, it makes Friday\u2019s meeting with the New York Islanders at UBS Arena as close to a must-win as there is.<\/p>\n
The return of Foerster and the continued emergence of rookie Porter Martone, who recorded a whopping nine of the Flyers\u2019 34 shots on Thursday night, combined with a team that seems to have relocated a relentless work ethic in recent weeks that was common under former coach John Tortorella, all suggest that they\u2019re going to continue fighting until the very end \u2014 whether that\u2019s on Friday, or beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis locker room in here, we all believe we\u2019re better than any opponent we\u2019re playing right now,\u201d Konecny said after the game. \u201cTough to get the loss, but we have all the confidence in the world that we\u2019re going to keep playing good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foerster and Martone will help.<\/p>\n
It took just 31 seconds into the second period for Foerster \u2014 who was leading the Flyers with 10 goals at the time of his injury on Dec. 1 \u2014 to get on the scoresheet. With the Flyers trailing 1-0 on Alex DeBrincat\u2019s late first-period power-play goal, Owen Tippett\u2019s flubbed shot early in the second took a fortuitous bounce to Foerster in the slot. A quick flick of Foerster\u2019s wrists sent the puck buzzing high over goalie John Gibson\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at the shot \u2014 in the slot. Boom,\u201d Tocchet said. \u201cThat\u2019s what he can do.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Flyers kept up the pressure in the immediate aftermath of that equalizer, aiming to take the lead. During one sequence with about 12 and a half minutes remaining, Foerster had another dangerous shot turned aside, threw a thunderous hit on Jacob Bernard-Docker and then nearly set up Tippett between the circles.<\/p>\n
In 16:19 of ice time, Foerster finished with four shots alongside his 11th goal of the season. He wasn\u2019t made available to chat after the game, as a team spokesman said he was getting treatment ahead of the Flyers\u2019 flight to Long Island.<\/p>\n
Regarding Foerster\u2019s return, Konecny said: \u201cWhat a lift for the team. It\u2019s frustrating again we lost tonight, but it\u2019s still encouraging. You go to the rink tomorrow, you have Forey around the locker room \u2014 big lift, big boost.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n Tyson Foerster, left, and Owen Tippett combined for six shots and two points in Foerster\u2019s debut from injury. (Kyle Ross \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
Still, while Foerster was the story before the game and some moments in the first half, it was Martone who was all over the ice in the latter half, as six of his shots came in the final 24 minutes. So did his first career assist, when he threw the puck towards the front of the net and saw it bounce off of Konecny\u2019s pants and in at 10:29 in the third, cutting the Red Wings\u2019 lead to 3-2.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the period, Konecny found Martone alone cutting in on the weak side in the opening minute. Martone ripped it on Gibson, who denied the shot and froze the puck.<\/p>\n
Another prime chance came with 13:20 remaining and the Red Wings leading 2-1. Martone helped the Flyers gain possession with an aggressive forecheck, handed the puck to Travis Sanheim, got it back, cut to the high slot and unleashed a wrist shot that Gibson barely got a piece of with his shoulder.<\/p>\n
It has taken no time for Martone, the sixth pick in the 2025 draft, to look comfortable in the NHL.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I could have scored a couple,\u201d Martone said. \u201cI think I\u2019m building some really good chemistry with (Konecny and Christian Dvorak), and one\u2019s going to find the back of the net soon enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Konecny, who played with Martone at last year\u2019s World Championships on Team Canada, was asked if he\u2019s surprised by Martone\u2019s immediate impact.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. No. Just the way he plays, he\u2019s not a risky player,\u201d Konecny said. \u201cHe kind of reminds me of (Foerster) honestly, the way he plays north, he gets in on the forecheck hard, he\u2019s a big body in front of the net, and he gets in good shooting areas and finds ways to get shots off. I\u2019m not shocked.\u201d<\/p>\n