A wild finish in Philadelphia saw the Flyers edge out the Penguins 3-2 in a shootout Tuesday night, but it’s the chaotic overtime ending that everyone’s talking about.
The Battle of Pennsylvania lived up to its reputation as one of hockey’s most heated rivalries, even though both teams have struggled in recent years.
What started as an exciting back-and-forth overtime period ended in complete mayhem, with both teams losing their top shootout specialists before the skills competition even began.
The drama started midway through overtime when Evgeni Malkin thought he’d won it for Pittsburgh. His celebration was cut short when officials waved it off – he’d jumped onto the ice too early during a delayed penalty.
Minutes later, it was the Flyers’ turn for disappointment. Tyson Foerster found the back of the net, but an offside call killed that celebration too.
Then things got really interesting.
As the overtime clock wound down, what started as a shoving match between Foerster and Parker Wortherspoon turned into an all-out brawl. The spark that lit the powder keg? Trevor Zegras pushing Noel Acciari’s head while he was already tied up in another scuffle.
Acciari wasn’t having any of that. He immediately went after Zegras, though the linesmen managed to keep them separated.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for both teams – losing key players just before the shootout would prove costly in a game where every point matters in the tight playoff race.
This is exactly the kind of intensity that’s made Penguins-Flyers one of hockey’s can’t-miss matchups for decades. Even in down years, these Pennsylvania rivals just can’t help but create fireworks when they meet.
