Three Takeaways From Flyers Win vs. Predators

It wasn’t pretty, but it was exactly the kind of game the Philadelphia Flyers have learned to win. 

In a battle against a physical Predators team, the Flyers managed to grind out a 2-1 victory— their third straight win—by relying on timely scoring, improved goaltending, and a relentless work ethic that has defined their season.

This was not a high-flying offensive showcase. It was a scrappy, hard-fought, playoff-style game where every shift mattered, every blocked shot counted, and every battle along the boards felt like it could tilt the outcome. And in those conditions, the Flyers proved once again that they can handle themselves.

1. Ivan Fedotov Delivered When the Flyers Needed Him Most

After a couple of rough outings, Ivan Fedotov needed a game like this. So did the Flyers.

While it wasn’t the busiest night for him in terms of overall shots faced, Fedotov came up big in key moments—especially in the second period when the Predators started to tilt the ice in their favor. He was particularly sharp with his pads, making several critical stops in tight to keep the Flyers in control.

“I feel good. Hopefully everybody feels good right now,” Fedotov said postgame. “It was a great win for us. Everybody played well and stayed with the structure.”

That structure, especially in the defensive zone, helped ease some of the pressure on Fedotov, but he still had to battle through some difficult situations—including a moment where he was forced to play without his stick for an extended stretch.

“It’s a tough situation,” he said. “We have to speak more. I understand the defensemen have to think about how to play the puck and not about talking with the goalie. I understand that. Everybody wants to do better for everybody. Of course, not a very good couple of moments, so we have to figure out how to have better communication for each other.”

Fedotov’s performance earned praise from interim head coach Brad Shaw, who highlighted his ability to make the kinds of saves that allow the Flyers to absorb mistakes without immediately paying for them.

“It kind of reminded me of the game in Winnipeg where he made some real tough, big-moment saves that gave us a chance to make a mistake and not have to pick it out of our net,” Shaw said. “For a team that’s where we are right now, that can really go a long way.”

2. Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny Are Clicking in a Big Way

There’s a certain kind of chemistry that just happens between two players—where they see the game the same way, anticipate each other’s movements, and instinctively know how to make plays together. Michkov and Konecny are finding that rhythm, and it’s making a difference.

“They’re certainly looking for one another, and I think they’re feeding off of one another’s success,” Shaw said.

One of the game’s highlight moments was an absurd aerial pass from Konecny that sent Michkov in on a breakaway. The finish didn’t quite happen—Michkov joked that “the lights were too bright” and blinded him for a second—but the sequence itself was a testament to their growing connection.

“That’s a high-grade, quality offensive play on both ends,” Shaw said. “To conjure that up and then to actually execute it…They get a little unlucky that it doesn’t roll in the net, but I just think they realize that they’re a little bit on the same wavelength on how they think they’re gonna create offense.”

Michkov, who has now had three consecutive multi-point games, was his usual humble self about his individual production.

“The [individual] points aren’t important,” he said. “What’s most important is that the team keeps winning. But the points are nice as well!”

As the season winds down, Michkov is only getting better and more productive, and his ability to make something out of nothing—whether it’s extending offensive zone possessions or finding a passing lane no one else saw—is making the Flyers a much more dangerous team.

3. Winning Ugly? The Flyers Will Take It.

The Flyers have been saying it all season—there’s no magic formula to this. They just play hard, stick to their identity, and keep finding ways to pick up wins, even when things aren’t perfect.

This game was proof of that. It wasn’t always dominant, but it was another example of how the Flyers can impose their will, force teams into mistakes, and outwork their opponents over 60 minutes.

“We make a ton of mistakes in lots of different areas,” Shaw admitted. “But when you can score at the rate we’ve scored…those two guys [Michkov and Konecny] are leading the charge that way.”

Ryan Poehling continued his hot streak as well, scoring the Flyers’ opening goal and adding another strong two-way effort.

“Since I’ve seen him play here for our team, when he gets one, they tend to follow with a second and a third and a fourth, and some guys are just like that,” Shaw said. “Hopefully he can keep it going a few more games and really finish on a nice line.”

Winning three straight games at this time of year is no small thing. The Flyers are making a real push, and their belief in themselves hasn’t wavered.

“There’s certain difficulties,” Michkov said of his first NHL season. “The whole season, you’re basically fighting with yourself. Hopefully the second season will be a lot easier, but [I] shouldn’t be relaxed at any point.”

That’s the mindset that has gotten the Flyers to this point. Nothing is guaranteed in this playoff race, but they’re embracing every challenge, every messy game, and every opportunity to keep proving people wrong.