Flyers fall in heartbreaker to Hurricanes, 4-3 in OT, after Bobby Brink’s winner gets overturned

The Philadelphia Flyers nearly skated away with their first win of the 2025 NHL season last night until the NHL’s Situation Room ripped it away.

With 54 seconds left in overtime, Bobby Brink appeared to play hero, burying what looked like the game-winning goal. Unfortunately, the celebration barely started before it all came crashing down.

After review, officials ruled that Travis Sanheim interfered with Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen, wiping the goal off the board.

Seventeen seconds later, the Hurricanes made the Flyers pay. Seth Jarvis, left wide open in the left circle, blasted home a one-timer from Sebastian Aho to give Carolina a 4-3 win at Lenovo Center — their sixth straight victory over the Flyers.

Bobby Brink OT Winner Overturned

BOBBY BRINK!!! OVERTIME WINNER!!!! 2G 1A TONIGHT!!!!#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/LpA4uuWuXA

— Flyers Clips (@Flyers_Clips) October 12, 2025

The Gut Punch

The city of Philadelphia cannot buy a win right now. The Bobby Brink no-goal sequence was peak Flyers pain. They thought they’d stolen one on the road, only for the hockey gods (and Toronto’s review team) to snatch it back.

Sanheim was furious postgame, insisting it was “incidental contact.” Brink himself wasn’t too happy either.

Bobby Brink is hilarious lol pic.twitter.com/53JUZc6vXH

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) October 12, 2025

I’m on the side of incidental contact. Andersen extended his arms and sold it, but welcome to the NHL where goalies get the benefit of the doubt 99 times out of 100.

Anderson pretty obviously initiates contact here pic.twitter.com/5CeqHpv0KQ

— Travis Ballinghoff (@travieballin26) October 12, 2025

The reversal crushed what had been one of the Flyers’ better efforts to start the year. They went toe-to-toe with one of the NHL’s best teams, killed off all four penalties, and got big-time performances from Bobby Brink and Samuel Ersson.

Bobby Brink Shines, Samuel Ersson Holds the Fort

If there’s one silver lining, it’s Bobby Brink.

The kid was electric. A goal and an assist, constantly active on the forecheck, and poised with the puck. He set up Sanheim’s game-tying goal late in regulation and nearly walked out as the overtime hero.

Ersson, meanwhile, was the busiest man on the ice — stopping 35 of 39 shots and giving the Flyers a real chance to win. Carolina’s relentless pressure could’ve easily buried them early, but Ersson hung tough in net all night long.

Tippett, Grebenkin, and the New Guys Step Up

Owen Tippett got the scoring started late in the first with a power-play goal, cleaning up a lucky bounce off the stanchion. It was nice to see the Flyers’ power play actually do something.

Trevor Zegras picked up his first point as a Flyer with an assist, and Nikita Grebenkin notched his first NHL point as well, helping set up Brink’s second-period goal to give Philly a 2-1 lead.

The newcomers showed some chemistry, which is about the only thing clicking right now.

Same Story, Different Ending

The Flyers battled hard, but in the end, the same issues cost them. A couple of defensive lapses, untimely penalties, and a lack of finish in overtime. It’s progress from the sloppiness of the opener, but moral victories don’t count in the standings.

Up Next

The Flyers return home still winless at 0-1-1, but there’s something to build on. Brink looks like the real deal, Ersson proved he’s capable, and the effort was there. Now they just have to figure out how to turn all that into a win before the season slips away.

Join The Chase