NEWARK, N.J. — The Flyers had no problem keeping their foot on the gas Tuesday night in their quest to end a five-year playoff drought.
They took care of the Devils, 5-1, at Prudential Center.
Trevor Zegras stunned New Jersey with two goals in the first 3:38 minutes of the game. Tyson Foerster then added two goals during the second period, giving him three in his four games back from an arm injury that cost him four months.
“We’ve missed him all year,” Owen Tippett said. “He has put in the hard work to get back in time. I think part of that kind of relied on us, too. It’s great to see him back out there smiling and having a good time.”
Nick Seeler buried an empty-netter from long range to close things out.
“These are the games that you want to play with each other and for each other,” Seeler said. “It has been a blast. I think this group has come together since the Olympic break more than ever.”
Zegras finished with a three-point night. Matvei Michkov assisted both of Foerster’s goals. The Flyers improved to 9-0-0 this season when Michkov records a multi-point game.
Just two days after moving into playoff position, the Flyers (40-26-12) didn’t squander the momentum. They built on it, winning their third straight and for the 15th time in the last 21 games (15-5-1).
The Flyers swept the Devils (40-35-3) in their three-game regular-season series, outscoring New Jersey 16-7.
• Rick Tocchet’s club stayed in the driver’s seat Tuesday night.
With four games remaining, the Flyers still hold the final playoff spot (third place) in the Metropolitan Division.
They remained two points up on the Blue Jackets, who rallied for a 4-3 shootout win Tuesday night over the Red Wings. The Islanders were idle, so the Flyers padded their lead on New York to three points.
The Flyers also extended their lead on the Capitals to five points.
“We believed all year that we could be in this position,” Tippett said. “The job’s not done yet, we’ve got to continue going. We’re having a lot of fun as a group in here.”
The Flyers entered Tuesday with a 57.4 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to Hockey-Reference.com’s probabilities report. That should increase come Wednesday morning.
“It feels like almost for a month now we’ve been playing must-win games,” Zegras said. “We’re definitely getting more comfortable and definitely settling in a little bit, for sure.”
Trevor Zegras scored his 24th and 25th goals of the season early on in the Flyers’ game Tuesday night against the Devils.
• Dan Vladar continued to play like the Flyers’ backbone.
“Vladdy was outstanding,” Seeler said.
He converted 23 saves on 24 shots. The 28-year-old has given up just three goals over the Flyers’ three-game win streak.
With New Jersey on a second-period power play and trying to get back into the game, Vladar made four saves in the span of 31 seconds. That kept the Flyers ahead 4-1 at second intermission.
“Vladar made an unreal couple of saves on the PK,” Tocchet said. “Who knows if it goes in there, so I’ve got to give him a lot of credit.”
The Devils woke up after their bad start and Vladar had to deny nine shots in the first period. New Jersey scored when a shot ricocheted off Cody Glass in front, but the Flyers still led 2-1.
They restored order in the first five minutes of the second period.
Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom stopped 14 of 18 shots.
Tippett made a nifty stop-and-go move to record a secondary assist on the Flyers’ game-opening goal. Porter Martone assisted the second goal, which came on the power play. It was the 19-year-old’s fourth point in five games since he signed his entry-level deal.
“He’s a moose,” Zegras said. “For a young kid, he plays a very mature game. I’ve had a lot of fun playing with him and he has been a great addition to the power play.”
Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale each had an assist on the night, as well.
Tyson Foerster scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season in the second period Tuesday night against the Devils.
• Zegras’ first goal gave him a new career high and the second added to it.
He now has 25 goals and he’s just one point away from passing his career high of 65 set with the Ducks in 2022-23.
The Flyers have to be thrilled with the return on their big offseason trade.
“He wants to make the playoffs, he hasn’t played a playoff game,” Tocchet said. “I think he wants to prove a lot of people wrong. He has played with a chip on his shoulder this year and I love that he has played with a chip on his shoulder. He pushes the pace and he’s a real good locker room guy.”
Trevor Zegras, who set a new career high in goals with his 24th and 25th, and Rick Tocchet spoke after the Flyers’ win over the Devils.
• The Flyers had a rookie on three of their four lines.
Martone was on the second line, Alex Bump on the third and Denver Barkey on the fourth.
“Love seeing the young guys in these spots, how they’re dealing with it,” Tocchet said before the game. “They’re having fun, that’s the whole part of it. Don’t be scared of it; go attack it.”
• The Flyers are back in action Thursday when they visit the Red Wings (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP+).