Flyers score 4 unanswered goals to beat the Capitals, a look at the NHL Wild Card with 18 games remaining

The Flyers scored four unanswered goals to beat the Washington Capitals 4-1 at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Wednesday night, winning in regulation for the first time in nearly two weeks.

Owen Tippett had a goal and an assist, Travis Konecny scored on his 29th birthday, Trevor Zegras had one of the better individual plays of the Flyers’ season, Jamie Drysdale extended his recent hot streak, and Samuel Ersson made 21 saves in net.

The Capitals scored first on a Ryan Leonard power play goal in the first period, which was the NHL-high 44th time Philadelphia allowed the game’s first goal.

Konecny tied it at 4:23 of the second period on a cross-ice pass from Travis Sanheim. The birthday boy delivering when the team needed it.

Travis Konecny with his 24th of the season

KONECNY WITH HIS 24TH OF THE SEASON ON HIS BIRTHDAY. 1-1.

ALEX BUMP ALSO PICKS UP HIS 1ST NHL ASSIST. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/BZPDJfSWVe

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) March 12, 2026

Zegras gave the Flyers their first in-game lead in four games with a moment that deserves its own sentence. He stepped in front of Tom Wilson at the blue line to intercept a pass, then sprinted into a 2-on-0 rush and buried it.

Trevor Zegras BAR DOWN:

ZEGRAS BAR DOWN. 2-1!!!! pic.twitter.com/qkZEnNg8mS

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) March 12, 2026

Drysdale made it 3-1 in the third on a wrist shot from the high slot, his fourth goal in 10 games after having just three in his first 51. The defenseman is playing the best hockey of his season at exactly the right time.

Jame Drysdale HEATER:

JAMIE FUCKIN DRYSDALE. 3-1!!! pic.twitter.com/dhBFk2SsNt

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) March 12, 2026

Tippett closed it with an empty-netter for his 100th career goal with the Flyers.

The Flyers are 30-23-11. The playoff race is still very much alive and Wednesday was the kind of response game you need when you are fighting for your postseason life.

Washington has lost four straight on the road and four of their last five overall, so the competition was not at its sharpest, but the Flyers needed this and they got it.

The Flyers Wildcard Push is Grim

Now for the honest standings reality with 18 games left. The Flyers sit at 71 points. The two wild card spots are currently held by Detroit at 79 and Boston at 78.

Philadelphia is seven points back of the second wild card with a maximum of 36 points available. The math is not impossible but it is genuinely difficult.

And the Bruins are not the only obstacle. Columbus is at 76 points and Ottawa is at 73. The Flyers essentially need to pass three teams in 18 games.

Even if Boston plays a pedestrian 9-9 pace the rest of the way they finish around 96 points, meaning the Flyers would need something close to a 13-5 run just to match them.

This is the hill. It is a steep one. Wednesday was a necessary win but it is one step in a climb that requires almost everything to go right for the next six weeks. The Flyers need to play like the team they were in February and they need help. Both things have to happen.

The window is not closed but it’s looking pretty grim.

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