Senators Fall Short as Stützle Shines in Overtime Thriller Against Flyers
It was another heart-pounding night of hockey in Philadelphia as the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers battled it out in a game that had everything — speed, tension, and a dramatic overtime finish. The Flyers came in riding the momentum of two straight road wins, and they didn’t disappoint their home crowd at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. But once again, it was Ottawa’s young star Tim Stützle who grabbed the spotlight, even if the Senators couldn’t quite seal the deal.
The Flyers had been finding their rhythm lately after a tough early stretch. With a shootout win in Montreal and a composed 3–1 victory in Nashville, they returned home with renewed confidence. Head coach Rick Tocchet had been shuffling his lines due to Tyson Foerster’s injury, but those changes seemed to spark new chemistry. Bobby Brink looked sharp skating alongside the creative Matvei Michkov, while the trio of Christian Dvorak, Trevor Zegras, and Owen Tippett brought a mix of structure and offensive bite. Tocchet’s approach — focused on system-based, informed hockey rather than cautious play — has clearly been paying off.
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Between the pipes, Sam Ersson returned to action after missing time with a lower-body injury. His calm presence made an immediate difference, giving the Flyers stability in goal and allowing Dan Vladar a well-earned break after his strong run of starts. That flexibility has been key for Tocchet, especially as the Flyers aim to balance workload and rhythm across their busy schedule.
On the other side, Ottawa entered the game desperate to turn the tide. The Senators had been stuck in a frustrating pattern — three straight overtime games, two of which ended in losses. With captain Brady Tkachuk still sidelined due to thumb surgery, coach Travis Green’s squad was searching for that missing offensive spark. The decision to bring Jordan Spence into the lineup over Nikolas Matinpalo was a clear attempt to add some playmaking energy from the back end. Still, the Sens’ struggles to finish games have been a recurring theme, and questions continue to swirl around Linus Ullmark’s ability to steal crucial wins.
This matchup was tight from start to finish. Flyers rookie defenseman Jamie Drysdale tied the game in the third period, capitalizing on a loose puck in front of the net. Matvei Michkov, always dangerous, found the scoresheet earlier with a goal that narrowed Ottawa’s lead. But when overtime arrived, it was Tim Stützle’s moment once again. Showing the same flair that made him a fan favorite in Ottawa, he buried his second goal of the night — a slick, confident finish that secured a 3–2 win for the Senators in extra time.
For Ottawa, the victory was a much-needed sigh of relief — their first in regulation in far too long. For the Flyers, it was a reminder that while they’ve grown steadier as a team, the margin for error in the NHL remains razor-thin. Both clubs leave this one with plenty to build on, but Stützle’s late heroics will be the story fans remember — a flash of brilliance that turned a tight contest into an instant highlight reel moment.
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