The Philadelphia Flyers waited for this moment for the better part of five years. Back in 2020, the Flyers made it to the playoffs and advanced to the second round. This season, they ended their playoff drought, setting themselves up for a first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. While the series was far from easy, but the Flyers were victorious on Wednesday night in the "Battle for Pennsylvania."
The Flyers defeated the Penguins 1-0 in overtime to advance to the second round. The hero of the game in terms of scoring the lone goal was defenseman Cam York, who sent a wrist shot past a screened Arturs Silovs, sending fans leaping from their seats in glee at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
You've seen the reactions of Flyers players skating towards York after the goal was scored. There may not have been anyone happier than goalie Dan Vladar, who couldn't help lift up his arms with glee before skating after his teammates.
I’ve found my new favorite video from last night: Dan Vladar’s reaction to Cam York’s game winner pic.twitter.com/ZtxtGpQUnm
— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) April 30, 2026
Dan Vladar's reaction to Cam York's Game 6-winning goal is everything
While York will be considered the hero of Game 6, one of the reasons why the Flyers won it was Vladar.
Vladar had been one of the key reasons why the Flyers made it to the playoffs, as he was their best goalie in recent memory. But in Games 4 and 5, Vladar was under the microscope, being criticized for letting in two flukey goals, resulting in the Penguins winning both matchups. But in Game 6, Vladar was on the top of his game.
Through the first three periods, Vladar stopped 32 shots on goal. In overtime, he was under duress by seemingly endless pressure by the Penguins, who put 10 shots on net. Vladar withstood the pressure and stopped every single shot. That set up the Flyers to win Game 6.
This is the kind of performance that can give a team momentum and motivation to make a deep run in the playoffs. The Flyers could certainly do that, even as they face a tough opponent in the Carolina Hurricanes.
Let the record show that no one was more fired up than Vladar as the Flyers advanced.
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