Flyers had a very bad night in Detroit but remain in playoff position

The Flyers got beat up in Detroit on Thursday night and it was not pretty. 6-3 final, Vladar pulled in the second, three power play goals allowed and the sixth time this season failing to win four games in a row. Just an ugly road game against a team that clearly had their number over the final two meetings of the season series.

The good news is that they are still in third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Columbus got blanked by the Sabres 5-0 on Thursday night so the Flyers stayed two points clear of the Blue Jackets. The Islanders beat Toronto and climbed within one point. Washington was idle and the Flyers remain three up on the Capitals. Three games left and the Flyers still control their own destiny for the final playoff spot in the Metro.

Flyers Disaster in Detroit

The first ninety seconds of the second period turned a 1-1 game into a 3-1 hole and it never recovered from there. Detroit scored on a 5-on-3 power play when Tippett was called for crashing into goaltender John Gibson.

Then Larkin scored on the power play 78 seconds later. Then Larkin scored a shorthanded breakaway goal after Foerster had a pass blocked to end Vladar’s night. Three goals in under two minutes of hockey and the game was effectively over.

Vladar had been lights out during the three-game win streak, posting a .954 save percentage and allowing just three goals. Thursday was the exception. Four goals on eight shots before getting the hook.

The Flyers did not help him, taking four penalties including a pair of questionable calls against Martone and Ristolainen that could easily have gone the other way.

Ersson came in and stopped 12 of 14 in relief but Detroit added two more in the third through Larkin completing his hat trick and Patrick Kane to put it away.

Shoutout Porter Martone

Porter Martone scored and added an assist for six points in his first six NHL games. That is not a coincidence. Christian Dvorak scored to match his career high of 18 goals and reach 50 points on the season. Trevor Zegras set a new career high of 66 points with an assist. Even in a blowout loss this team has players producing.

Porter Play Goal. 👊#PHIvsDET | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/fZAiEcuvcG

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 10, 2026

The kid just keeps collecting points. pic.twitter.com/Au2m6E3RYX

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 10, 2026

Flyers Standings

• Still in third place in the Metropolitan Division
• Two points ahead of Columbus
• One point ahead of the Islanders
• Three points ahead of Washington

Three games left. The Flyers visit the Jets on Saturday at 7 PM ET on NBCSP. Thursday was a blip. It has to be.

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