PPL Center, Allentown, PA | Friday, September 12, 2025 | 7:05 PM ET
Final Score: Philadelphia Flyers 4, New York Rangers 3 (OT)
Game Summary
The Philadelphia Flyers overcame an early 2-0 deficit to defeat the New York Rangers in a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory at the PPL Center. The game showcased the resilience of Philadelphia’s prospects and featured dramatic momentum swings throughout all three periods before Nikita Grebenkin’s heroics sealed the win just 57 seconds into overtime.
Scoring Summary
First Period
- 3:58 – Brennan Othmann (NYR) – Assists: Noah Laba, Scott Morrow
- 4:34 – Dylan Roobroeck (NYR) – Assists: Scott Morrow
Second Period
- 3:07 – Denver Barkey (PHI) – Assists: Tucker Robertson
- 6:16 – Alexis Gendron (PHI) – Short-handed goal – Assists: Karsen Dorwart
- 13:29 – Raoul Boilard (NYR) – Assists: Bryce McConnell-Barker, Artem Gonchar
Third Period
- 10:02 – Jacob Gaucher (PHI) – Assists: Devin Kaplan
Overtime
- 0:57 – Nikita Grebenkin (PHI) – Assists: Karsen Dorwart, Ethan Samson
Shots on Goal: Philadelphia 35, New York 24
Key Storylines
Early Adversity and Resilience
The Flyers faced immediate adversity as the Rangers struck twice in the opening five minutes on their first two shots of the game. Brennan Othmann opened the scoring by beating Carson Bjarnason through the wickets at 3:58, followed by Dylan Roobroeck’s shot from the boards that found its way past the Flyers goaltender just 36 seconds later.
This early 2-0 hole could have deflated a young team, but Philadelphia’s prospects showed remarkable composure and character. The comeback began in the second period and demonstrated the organizational depth and mental toughness that the Flyers coaching staff has been emphasizing throughout rookie camp.
The Second Period Turnaround
The second period belonged entirely to Philadelphia, who outshot New York 20-6 and completely flipped the script. The Flyers dominated puck possession, generated quality scoring chances, and showed excellent special teams play.
Denver Barkey got the comeback started at 3:07 of the second, finishing a beautiful cross-ice pass from Tucker Robertson with a precise shot that beat Hugo Ollas. The goal showcased Barkey’s quick release and positioning despite questions about his size at the professional level.
The turning point came during a Rangers power play when Alexis Gendron scored a crucial short-handed goal at 6:16. Initially appearing to hit the post, officials reviewed the play and confirmed Gendron’s shot had crossed the goal line, tying the game 2-2 and completely shifting momentum.
However, the Rangers responded with Raoul Boilard’s snipe over Bjarnason at 13:29 to regain the lead 3-2 heading into the third period.
Goaltending Narratives
Carson Bjarnason had a shaky start for Philadelphia, allowing two early goals that put his team in a significant hole. The first goal went through his wickets, while the second found space between his arm and body – both soft goals that could have rattled a young goaltender.
However, Bjarnason showed excellent mental toughness by steadying himself after the poor start. He made several crucial saves in the third period, including stops on odd-man rushes and a key save on Gabe Perreault that kept the game within reach.
Individual Standout Performances
Denver Barkey (PHI)
The diminutive forward continued to prove that “height does not measure heart.” Barkey was dynamic throughout the game, nearly scoring a spectacular tying goal late in the second period when he beat defenseman Scott Morrow one-on-one. His goal was a thing of beauty, showcasing his quick hands and ability to find space in tight quarters.
Nikita Grebenkin (PHI) – Game Winner
The overtime hero made the most of his opportunity, scoring a beautiful goal just 57 seconds into the extra frame. Grebenkin’s clutch performance in the biggest moment showed the kind of composure and skill that gets prospects noticed by NHL management.
Scott Morrow (NYR)
The Rangers defenseman had an excellent game, recording assists on both first-period goals and providing steady play from the blue line. His vision and passing ability were on full display as he helped give New York their early advantage.
Samu Tuomaala (PHI)
Playing on a line with Alex Bump and Jack Nesbitt, Tuomaala made the most of his opportunity despite potentially being lower on the organizational depth chart. He was particularly effective on the power play, creating chances and showing excellent hockey IQ.
Jack Nesbitt (PHI)
The big forward used his size effectively throughout the game, establishing presence in front of the net and in the dirty areas. His physicality and net-front presence caused problems for the Rangers all night.
Special Teams Analysis
Power Play Excellence Philadelphia’s power play was outstanding, particularly in the second period. The first unit, featuring Ethan Samson as the point man with Bump and Barkey providing creativity, nearly scored when Samson’s shot hit the iron.
The second power play unit was described as “electric,” with Bump and Barkey making crisp, quick passes that generated prime scoring chances. The puck movement and creativity displayed was a stark contrast to the organization’s power play struggles at the NHL level last season.
Penalty Kill Resilience The Flyers’ penalty kill not only prevented Rangers goals but actually generated offense. Gendron’s short-handed goal was a momentum-changing play that demonstrated the speed and forechecking ability of Philadelphia’s prospects.
Physical Play and Intensity
The game featured significant physical play and multiple fights, demonstrating that this rivalry extends to the prospect level. Notable altercations included:
- Corbin Vaughan (NYR) vs Jacob Gaucher (PHI) – Vaughan appeared to get the upper hand
- Vaughan vs Sawyer Boulton (PHI) – Boulton landed a decisive uppercut and called out the Rangers bench
The physicality seemed to energize the Flyers, who responded well to the aggressive play and didn’t back down from the larger Rangers prospects.
Tactical Observations
Philadelphia’s Adjustments After the poor start, the Flyers made excellent in-game adjustments. They began insulating their goaltender better in the defensive zone while generating more controlled zone entries. The team showed patience in their buildup play and didn’t panic despite the early deficit.
New York’s Missed Opportunity The Rangers had the perfect start but couldn’t capitalize on their early momentum. They were outshot 35-24 and seemed to sit back after taking the lead rather than continuing to pressure Philadelphia’s shaky goaltending.
Notable Attendees
The game marked several significant firsts and featured a packed pressbox of NHL personnel evaluating their future stars:
- New Lehigh Valley head coach John Snowden coached his first game as bench boss at PPL Center
- Daniel Briere (Flyers General Manager), Keith Jones (Flyers President of Hockey Operations), and Rick Tocchet (former NHL coach) were among the front-office management and NHL coaches watching and taking notes
- This marked the fourth time in seven Rookie Series contests that these rivals went to overtime, showing the competitive balance between the organizations
Final Assessment
Game 1 of the 2025 Rookie Series showcased everything that makes prospect hockey compelling – skilled play, physical intensity, dramatic momentum swings, and clutch performances when it mattered most. Philadelphia’s comeback victory demonstrates the organizational culture and prospect development that has the Flyers excited about their future pipeline.
The 35-24 shot advantage for Philadelphia tells the story of a team that took control of the game after the early adversity and never let up. With players like Barkey, Grebenkin, and Tuomaala showing their potential on the big stage, the Flyers have reason for optimism about their organizational depth.
This game lived up to the rivalry’s billing and set the stage perfectly for Game 2, where both teams will look to make adjustments and showcase why their respective prospect pools are among the most promising in the NHL.
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