The last time the Philadelphia Flyers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs was back in 2018. They were bounced by the same Pittsburgh Penguins they defeated on Wednesday night.
While the Flyers did make a postseason appearance during the 2020 bubble playoffs, the club had not been a playoff contender until this season.
Philly had been stuck in a painful rebuild that saw plenty of former stars go out the door. The hiring of John Tortorella promised a relatively quick turnaround for the rebuild. But we all saw how that went.
Last year’s disappointing season led to questions about the status of the rebuild. Plus, other rebuilding clubs like the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, and Chicago Blackhawks are all mired in prolonged playoff droughts; the prospects of emerging from their rebuilds any time soon seemed bleak.
Well, the Flyers made the postseason this year. A strong late-season run allowed the Flyers to get past the New York Islanders into the third spot in the Metro Division. Rick Tocchet landed the plane safely and got Philly back into the postseason.
That set up a showdown against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. The Flyers held off the Pens’ comeback attempt to win a thrilling 1-0 game in overtime on Wednesday night. The victory sealed the Flyers’ ticket to the second round.
It was a tremendous step forward. And it also unequivocally signaled that the Flyers’ rebuild is officially over. Of all the teams in the last decade that have undergone rebuilds, the Flyers are the first team to emerge from that pile. While the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks might not be too far behind, the Flyers are now the gold standard.
Yes, there could also be an argument for the Montreal Canadiens. But they haven’t won a playoff series just yet. They could be on the verge of doing so. But until they do, the discussion won’t focus on their rebuild culminating.
It’s a great time to be a Flyers fan. The pass to the second round, even if it sets up a tough matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes, is one certainly worth the wait. If there’s any team that could upset the top-seeded Hurricanes, it’s the Flyers.
We can’t wait to see just how well the Flyers can stack up in the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
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