Philadelphia rallies late to edge New Jersey 4-3 in preseason finale
PHILADELPHIA — Travis Konecny tied the game late in the third period with his second goal before finishing the comeback with the shootout winner as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Saturday afternoon at Xfinity Mobile Arena in both teams’ final preseason tune-up.
Despite being outshot 36-25 and outhit 38-19, the Flyers rallied twice to force overtime before prevailing in the shootout, showcasing the resilience they’ll need heading into the regular season.
First Period: Trading Early Blows (1-1)
Both teams found their rhythm in the opening frame, trading goals in the final four minutes to head to the intermission tied 1-1.
The Devils struck first at 16:09 when Kevin Rooney deflected an Ethan Edwards point shot past goaltender Daniel Vladar with a perfect tip-in. Austin Strand picked up the secondary assist on Rooney’s first goal of the preseason, giving New Jersey an early 1-0 advantage.
Philadelphia responded just 2:07 later at 18:16. Travis Sanheim pinched in from the point to take a setup from Jett Luchanko and roofed a wrist shot to knot the score at 1-1, with Nikita Grebenkin earning the secondary assist. Sanheim’s third goal of the preseason showcased his offensive instincts and gave the Flyers momentum heading into the first intermission.
Second Period: Special Teams Battle (2-2)
The middle frame belonged to the power play units, with both teams capitalizing on man-advantage opportunities just over seven minutes apart in an evenly matched special teams battle.
New Jersey struck early, regaining the lead at just 0:40 of the second period. Lenni Hameenaho converted an easy tap-in wrist shot from close range off a Shane Lachance feed on the power play, with Calen Addison picking up the second helper. The goal was Hameenaho’s first of the preseason, giving the Devils a 2-1 advantage and showcasing their dangerous power-play unit.
Philadelphia answered on their own power play at 7:47 when Matvei Michkov kept the play alive behind the net and fed Travis Konecny for a wrist shot at the left post. Jamie Drysdale picked up the secondary assist on the power-play marker, knotting the score at 2-2 after 40 minutes. The goal showcased the chemistry developing between Michkov, who finished with five shots on goal and one assist, and Konecny.
Third Period: Late Heroics Force Extras (3-3)
The final period featured outstanding goaltending and clutch scoring, with both teams trading go-ahead goals in a thrilling finish that came down to the final two minutes of regulation.
At 11:31, Paul Cotter gave the Devils the lead after Dan Vladar mishandled a puck behind the net and Arseny Gritsyuk pounced. Gritsyuk quickly fed Cotter in front for a snap shot that made it 3-2 New Jersey. The goal marked Cotter’s third of the preseason, with all three coming via assists from the skilled Russian forward.
Devils assistant coach Jeremy Colliton praised the Glendening-Gritsyuk-Cotter line after the game: “That line was really good for us. They were able to capture momentum at key times, stop theirs, and get us going.”
With time winding down and their season finale slipping away, Philadelphia pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. At 18:07 – with just 1:53 remaining – Konecny gathered the puck and wired a wrist shot past Jake Allen to force overtime. Drysdale and Sanheim collected assists on the game-tying goal, giving both defensemen two-point performances and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Overtime and Shootout: Flyers Complete Comeback (4-3 SO)
The Devils got a 4-on-3 power play at 4:33 of overtime on a Drysdale tripping penalty, but Allen stood tall to deny the advantage. The three-on-three session featured multiple high-danger chances for both sides but no goals, sending the game to a shootout.
In the shootout, Bobby Brink’s wrist shot was saved by Allen, while Arseny Gritsyuk’s snap shot went wide left for New Jersey. Trevor Zegras scored on a snap shot to give Philadelphia the edge, and Paul Cotter’s wrist shot was stopped by Vladar. Konecny sealed the victory with a wrist shot goal, completing the comeback and capping his heroic two-goal, three-shot performance.
Scoring Summary
First Period
- 16:09 – NJD 1-0 – Kevin Rooney (1) – Tip-in – Assists: E. Edwards, A. Strand
- 18:16 – PHI 1-1 – Travis Sanheim (3) – Wrist Shot – Assists: J. Luchanko, N. Grebenkin
Second Period
- 0:40 – NJD 2-1 – Lenni Hameenaho (1) – PPG – Wrist Shot – Assists: S. Lachance, C. Addison
- 7:47 – PHI 2-2 – Travis Konecny (2) – PPG – Wrist Shot – Assists: M. Michkov, J. Drysdale
Third Period
- 11:31 – NJD 3-2 – Paul Cotter (3) – Snap Shot – Assist: A. Gritsyuk
- 18:07 – PHI 3-3 – Travis Konecny (3) – Wrist Shot – Assists: J. Drysdale, T. Sanheim
Shootout
- Bobby Brink (PHI) – Wrist Shot – SAVE by Allen
- Arseny Gritsyuk (NJD) – Snap Shot – MISS (Wide Left)
- Trevor Zegras (PHI) – Snap Shot – GOAL
- Paul Cotter (NJD) – Wrist Shot – SAVE by Vladar
- Travis Konecny (PHI) – Wrist Shot – GOAL
Three Stars of the Game
1. Travis Konecny – RW, Philadelphia (#11)
Two goals, two points – The Flyers’ right winger delivered when it mattered most, tying the game with 1:53 left in regulation before sealing the victory in the shootout. His two wrist shots in regulation showcased his lethal release, and his clutch gene was on full display in the team’s final preseason test.
2. Travis Sanheim – D, Philadelphia (#6)
One goal, one assist, two points – The offensive-minded defenseman led the Flyers’ blue line with a goal and an assist, including the crucial helper on Konecny’s game-tying marker. His ability to jump into the rush and finish with a wrist shot in the first period set the tone for Philadelphia’s offensive attack.
3. Paul Cotter – LW, New Jersey (#47)
One goal, one point – The Devils’ left winger continued his impressive preseason, notching his third goal in as many games with assists from Arseny Gritsyuk. His snap shot gave New Jersey what appeared to be the winning goal with under nine minutes to play, and his chemistry with Gritsyuk was evident throughout.
Player Performances
Devils Skaters:
- Paul Cotter (1G, 1 Pt, 3 SOG) – Third goal of preseason, all assisted by Gritsyuk; earned Third Star honors
- Arseny Gritsyuk (1A, 1 Pt, 3 SOG) – Team’s leading scorer with five total preseason points; created the go-ahead goal
- Kevin Rooney (1G, 1 Pt, 3 SOG) – Perfect tip-in opened the scoring in the first period
- Lenni Hameenaho (1G, 1 Pt) – First preseason goal on the power play
- Shane Lachance (1A, 1 Pt) – Set up Hameenaho’s power-play goal with precise passing
- Calen Addison (1A, 1 Pt) – Secondary assist on power-play marker
- Ethan Edwards (1A, 1 Pt) – Point shot led to Rooney’s deflection goal
- Austin Strand (1A, 1 Pt) – Picked up assist on opening goal
Flyers Skaters:
- Travis Konecny (2G, 2 Pts, 3 SOG) – First Star; game-winning shootout goal capped heroic performance
- Travis Sanheim (1G, 1A, 2 Pts, 2 SOG) – Second Star; led Flyers defensemen in scoring
- Jamie Drysdale, D (2A, 2 Pts, 1 SOG) – Orchestrated offense from blue line with two crucial assists
- Matvei Michkov, RW (1A, 1 Pt, 5 SOG) – Led all skaters with five shots; elite playmaking ability
- Jett Luchanko (1A, 1 Pt, 1 SOG) – Primary assist on Sanheim’s first-period goal
- Nikita Grebenkin (1A, 1 Pt, 1 SOG) – Secondary assist on Sanheim’s marker
- Trevor Zegras (Shootout goal) – Clutch snap shot in the skills competition
Goaltending Battle:
- Dan Vladar (PHI): 3 GA, 22 SA, 22 SV, .880 SV% – Struggled on Cotter’s goal but recovered with key overtime saves
- Jake Allen (NJ): 3 GA, 36 SA, 33 SV, .917 SV% – Outstanding performance; faced heavy volume and kept Devils competitive
Allen welcomed the heavy workload in his final preseason start. “It’s always a better thing to have more than less, to be honest,” he said. “It’s good for me to get my feet going, get a sweat, get a full game in, and get ready for next week.”
Game Statistics Breakdown
Shots on Goal: Flyers 36, Devils 25
Philadelphia dominated possession and outshot New Jersey by 11, with Vladar facing significantly less work than Allen.
Faceoffs: Devils 31-56 (55.4%), Flyers 25-56 (44.6%)
New Jersey controlled the dot, winning six more faceoffs and maintaining better puck possession from draws.
Power Play: Both teams 1-for-3 (33.3%)
Special teams were evenly matched. Each team converted one opportunity in three chances.
Penalty Minutes: 6 minutes each
Discipline was relatively even, though the Devils’ overtime 4-on-3 power play nearly won them the game.
Hits: Devils 38, Flyers 19
New Jersey played a much more physical game, doubling Philadelphia’s hit total and controlling the physical play.
Blocked Shots: Flyers 13, Devils 5
Philadelphia’s shot-blocking prowess was on full display, with defenders sacrificing their bodies to protect Vladar.
Giveaways/Takeaways: Devils 13 giveaways, 1 takeaway; Flyers 15 giveaways, 1 takeaway
Both teams were sloppy with the puck at times, typical of preseason action.
Key Takeaways
For Philadelphia:
- Clutch gene activated: The Flyers rallied twice from deficits, including Konecny’s heroics with under two minutes remaining
- Offensive firepower: 36 shots on goal showed sustained pressure and puck possession in the offensive zone
- Defensive commitment: 13 blocked shots demonstrated team-first mentality despite being outhit 38-19
- Special teams execution: 1-for-3 on the power play with quality chances generated
- Star power shining: Two Flyers earned Three Stars honors, with Konecny and Sanheim leading the way
For New Jersey:
- Allen’s ready for primetime: The veteran goaltender appears primed to handle heavy workloads with his .917 save percentage
- Cotter-Gritsyuk chemistry: This duo combined for all three Devils goals, with Cotter earning Third Star recognition
- Physical dominance: 38 hits and strong faceoff percentage (55.4%) showed New Jersey can play a heavy, grinding game
- Late-game execution issues: Unable to close out a one-goal lead in the final two minutes
- Shot generation concerns: Just 25 shots on goal despite the physical edge and faceoff dominance
Context and Significance
Philadelphia dressed close to their expected NHL opening night lineup, using this final exhibition game to fine-tune chemistry and systems. The comeback victory – particularly Konecny’s late-game heroics – provided exactly the kind of confidence boost the Flyers needed heading into their season opener against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
New Jersey used a younger roster with many players fighting for final roster spots and AHL assignments. During the game, the Devils placed four players on waivers with the intention of assigning them to Utica (AHL): Angus Crookshank, Brian Halonen, Zack MacEwen and Colton White.
What’s Next
Both teams open their regular seasons on the road Thursday, Oct. 9: the Flyers take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers at 7:00 PM EDT, while the Devils face the Carolina Hurricanes at 7:30 PM EDT.
For New Jersey, the preseason showcased promising depth and strong goaltending from Allen, who appears ready to shoulder a significant workload. The Cotter-Gritsyuk connection will be one to watch, and the team’s ability to win faceoffs (55.4%) and play physically (38 hits) bodes well for the Metropolitan Division grind ahead. However, closing out tight games will be crucial.
For Philadelphia, Konecny’s heroics provided momentum heading into a challenging season opener in Florida. The power-play unit featuring Michkov, Konecny, and Drysdale showed promise, while Sanheim’s offensive instincts from the blue line could be a key weapon in 2025-26. The Flyers will need to maintain their shot volume advantage and continue their strong shot-blocking against elite competition.
Final Score: Flyers 4, Devils 3 (SO)
Preseason Records: Devils (3-3-1), Flyers (3-4-0)
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