If you blinked, you probably missed a goal.
That’s how wild things got at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night, where the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers combined for nine goals in the third period alone in what felt less like an NHL game and more like a high-scoring, firewagon fever dream.
But when the dust settled, the Flyers emerged with an 8–5 win over a Rangers team still jockeying for playoff position, thanks to a first career hat trick from Tyson Foerster and some timely goaltending from Aleksei Kolosov in his first start in three months.
It’s easy to look at the standings and assume there’s nothing left to play for. The Flyers disagree. Loudly. They’re not rolling over—they’re pushing forward, playing with pride, freedom, and a whole lot of energy. As Foerster put it simply after the game: “Winning is fun, so let’s keep winning.”
1. Foerster’s Hat Trick Caps a Successful Season
In one of the NHL’s most iconic buildings, Tyson Foerster had a night he’ll never forget. Three goals, 22 on the season, and a spot in the Flyers’ history books.
“It was pretty cool,” Foerster said afterward. “I know this building is awesome, and it was pretty cool to get a hat trick here, for sure.”
"Cool" is an understatement. Foerster became the first Flyer since Simon Gagne to record back-to-back 20-goal seasons to begin his career with the club—a feat that speaks not only to his finishing ability but also to his steady growth as a two-way contributor.
“[Gagne’s] a Flyers legend, so it’s pretty cool to be a part of that,” Foerster said with a smile. “Coming in here every year, you just want to get better and better. So to do that, to just be a little bit better [than last year]... it’s pretty good.”
His scoring touch was on full display Tuesday, but what’s perhaps even more impressive is how he’s added physicality and puck protection to his game. He’s no longer just a shooter—he’s someone who can be leaned on to drive a line and tilt the ice. And with four games to go, Foerster isn’t coasting to the finish line. “Hopefully I can continue to stay hot and do it again next year.”
2. Aleksei Kolosov Gets the Start—and the Win
The box score says Aleksei Kolosov gave up five goals. That’s true. It was his first start in three months, and he was immediately thrown into the fire—a situatuin interim head coach Brad Shaw specifically said pregame they were trying to avoid putting Kolosov in against the Rangers.
“I thought Koly was great in the first period,” said interim head coach Brad Shaw. “I talked about limiting chances against him, and then we give him a penalty shot and two other point-blank breakaways! So it wasn’t ideal… but I thought he held us in, kept it 1-0 after one period where we were kind of struggling and stuck in the mud a little bit.”
Sean Couturier echoed the praise: “He made some big saves early to keep us in the game. For us to get a couple of goals late in the game to help and get that win, I think it’s huge for him.”
The Flyers have been cautious with Kolosov’s development since he came over from Belarus, but this outing showed exactly why there’s excitement around the 22-year-old. He’s composed, athletic, and unflappable—even in a game where pucks were flying in at every angle.
The crease in Philadelphia has seen a revolving door this season, but Kolosov gave the Flyers a steady hand when they needed it.
3. This Team Still Cares—A Lot
Let’s get this out of the way: Tuesday night’s game was not a clinic in defensive structure. Brad Shaw admitted as much. “That was a crazy period. It just feels like—not quite utter chaos, but it feels like it’s slipping out of your control if it hasn’t already.”
And yet, through all the chaos, the Flyers never lost their sense of togetherness or belief. They didn’t cave when the Rangers surged, and they kept their foot on the gas until the final buzzer.
“I thought they had some good pushes in the first two periods,” said Sean Couturier. “I don’t think we played our best game, but we stuck together and got some big goals late in the game.”
This group might be out of the playoff picture, but they’re not going through the motions. There’s pride in every shift, chemistry in every zone, and fire in every celebration. Jakob Pelletier, whose reactions to goals have quickly endeared fans, teammates, and coaches alike, summed it up perfectly: “It was good! You know, it’s nice. I thought we had a tough first period, but then we came back strong.”
There’s also been a noticeable shift in the team’s offensive mindset since Shaw took over behind the bench. Couturier pointed to a looseness that’s brought out the best in players: “It definitely feels like guys seem to be a little more loose. They aren’t afraid to make plays… you’ve got to make sure you’re accountable… but it’s nice to see guys getting rewarded.”
With four games left, the Flyers are writing their own ending to this season—one that isn’t defined by playoff berths, but by fight, fun, and a belief that something meaningful can still come from the final stretch.
