The Philadelphia Flyers showed their resilience once again on Monday night, overcoming two deficits to edge the Florida Panthers 4-3 at Wells Fargo Center. Noah Cates was the star of the evening, scoring two third-period goals — including the game-winner on a breakaway — to lead the Flyers to their second consecutive victory.
Cates, centering the Flyers’ third line, delivered his second career multigoal game, the first since his rookie season in April 2022. His first goal came on the power play, showcasing Philadelphia’s recent improvements in special teams. Moments later, Cates capitalized on a breakaway opportunity, sealing the win for the Flyers.
“Getting that second one felt great,” Cates said postgame. “The team has been working hard, and it’s always special to contribute in a meaningful way.”
Garnet Hathaway and Morgan Frost also found the back of the net for the Flyers. Frost’s crucial power-play goal tied the game at 3-3, thanks to a crisp passing sequence from Jaime Drysdale and rookie Matvei Michkov. The Flyers’ power play, ranked near the bottom of the NHL, has now produced multiple goals in consecutive games for the first time this season.
Goaltender Sam Ersson made 20 saves in a solid outing, anchoring Philadelphia’s defense during Florida’s late push.
For the Panthers, Sam Reinhart tallied two goals, marking his fifth multigoal game of the season. Reinhart has now scored multiple goals in consecutive games for just the second time in his 11-year career, following his two-goal effort in Florida’s overtime loss to Boston last Saturday.
Uvis Balinskis also scored for the Panthers, but it wasn’t enough to avoid their sixth loss in the last nine games. Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 25 shots in a losing effort.
The Flyers trailed 2-0 early but displayed their trademark resilience, tying the game twice before taking the lead for good in the final period. Philadelphia has now earned at least one point in seven games when trailing after two periods, tied with Vegas for the most in the NHL.
Reinhart’s performance was a bright spot for Florida, but the Panthers’ inability to hold leads continues to hinder their season.
The Flyers, riding momentum from their back-to-back wins, will visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Panthers face another tough road test against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
As Philadelphia builds confidence and finds consistency, the Flyers are proving to be a dangerous team in the latter stages of games, with players like Cates stepping up when it matters most.