Penalties Costly As Flyers Remain Winless After Battle in Ottawa

October 9, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

The Philadelphia Flyers (0-3-2) remain winless after a late power-play goal powered the Ottawa Senators (3-1-0) to a 2-1 win on Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.

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Nick Cousins and Carter Yakemchuk scored for the Senators. Matvei Michkov scored for the Flyers.

The majority of the first period was spent on special teams. Philly was given the first power play of the game, but not long after the unsuccessful attempt on the man advantage came four consecutive Flyers penalties, giving the Senators 8 straight minutes of power-play time. While they did not register a power-play goal, Ottawa was able to take the 1-0 lead just 4 seconds after their first power-play chance.

It was a start to the second period that the Flyers have been much more used to. Sloppy play, inability to make exit and neutral zone passes, and an overall sense of lethargy on the ice. However, a key power play (yes, you read that right) shifted the tide for the Flyers, as they were able to shift the tide and started to take over the game. After tying it at 1, the Flyers began controlling play and looked like it was their game.

In the third period, the Flyers started strong, but special teams once again took over. The Flyers had a brief 5-on-3, but could not find a way to score on the man-advantage with the game tied. Then, in the latter half of the period, the Senators got a big-time chance and didn’t look back. They scored on the power play, giving them a lead that they did not squander.

Here’s how we got to the final score.

Special Teams Take Over

The Flyers got off to a much faster start than they’re used to. No, it did not result in a goal. But the Flyers tallied 4 shots in the first 4 minutes of the game. That’s something they have not been accustomed to.

Philly also got the first power play of the game 5 minutes in, following a Dylan Cozens roughing penalty. Some big changes for the Flyers on the power play as well, including David Jiricek taking a spot on the top unit. The new look gave the second unit some juice. But they were not able to get their first power-play goal of the season.

Not long after the kill, play stopped when William Eklund went down injured following an awkward collision with Simon Benoit near the wall. That forced the Senators’ forward to leave the game.

Then, without Eklund, the Senators were on the power play following a Travis Sanheim trip.

It won’t go down as a power-play goal. But as the power play came to an end, Tyler Klevin (1) sent a shot from the blueline. After a few bounces, it went off the stick of Nick Cousins (1) and past Joseph Woll, giving Ottawa the 1-0 lead.

On the ensuing faceoff, Matvei Michkov was called for tripping, putting the Sens back on the power play. They were able to get the kill. However, it became back-to-back-to-back penalty kills for the Flyers as Sanheim was called again, this time for holding.

Philly got their third kill, but just 11 seconds later, Benoit was nabbed for boarding. 4 straight power plays for the Senators with just 20 seconds of even strength in between.

The Flyers committed no more penalties in the period and were able to escape the disastrous period trailing 1-0, leaving the shot battle 10-8.

Flyers Power Play Goals DO Exist

Just under 4 minutes into the period, the Flyers avoided near disaster as Joseph Woll got lost outside of the net. The Senators had an open net for a good 5-10 seconds, but the Flyers’ defense did not break. They were able to clog the middle and clear the puck before the Senators could score.

Tyson Foerster nearly tied the game just under 7 minutes in, but his shot rang off the post wide.

Then just over the 7-minute mark, Tyler Kleven got called for hooking, putting the Flyers on the power play. Trevor Zegras (2) sent a shot into the chest of Linus Ullmark. It looked like an easy save, but Matvei Michkov (2) saw the puck squeak through and pushed it over the goal line before the defense could swipe it away. Travis Konecny (2) picked up the secondary assist on the power-play goal.

So, the game was even at 1 with just a few ticks over 12 minutes to go in the period.

After a slow and sloppy start to the second, the Flyers had new life.

They did show some spark, and after the power-play goal, looked like the best team on the ice. Play cleaned up for Philly, and the Flyers were generating much more offense. However, they were unable to take the lead.

The game went into the second intermission tied at 1, with Philly outshooting Ottawa 22-17.

Senators Take the Lead, Flyers Can’t Close the Gap

Play settled down and evened out at the start of the third period. The Senators picked up the intensity and started to put a push on the Flyers, but Philly did not go away.

5 minutes into the final frame, the Senators had another chance with Woll out of the net, but again, the Flyers were able to keep the puck out of the net.

Moments later, a Drake Batherson high stick on Tyson Foerster put the Flyers on the man-advantage with just under 14 to go in regulation. It looked like it was going to be another dead power play, but with 27 seconds remaining, Jordan Spence sent the puck over the glass, and the Flyers had a brief 5-on-3 power play.

Michael Amadio had a shorthanded breakaway, but Woll made the big stop, keeping the game even. The Flyers were unable to score, but it was not the last time special teams impacted the game.

With just under 9 minutes to go in the game, the new guy Michael Bunting was called for hooking. That put the Sens on a clutch-time power play. It looked like the Flyers were going to cruise to the kill. However, with just 8 seconds to go, young defenseman Cater Yakemchuk (1) put one past Woll to give Ottawa the 2-1 lead.

It became do-or-die time for the Flyers, who seemed to revert to their form from earlier in the season. Things had gone quiet offensivley, and the struggles continued.

The Flyers pulled Woll to get the 6-on-5 advantage. With their backs against the wall, the offense woke up and put forward a flurry of good chances. It was a really good late push by Philly, but Linus Ullmark did not break as the Senators held on for the 2-1 win.

In moral victories, it was the Flyers’ best game of the season so far.

What’s Next for the Flyers

The 3-game road trip concludes on Saturday when the Flyers take on the Boston Bruins at 1:00 PM ET at the TD Garden.