In a nail-biting display of resilience and clutch performance, the New York Rangers staged an unforgettable comeback, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in a shootout thriller against the Philadelphia Flyers. But here's where it gets controversial—could the Flyers have turned the tide with better execution in overtime? Dive in to discover how one timely power-play goal flipped the script and why this matchup had hockey enthusiasts buzzing!
Forward Mika Zibanejad delivered the equalizer on a power play with just 2 minutes and 34 seconds remaining in the third period, contributing an assist as well, propelling the Rangers to a 5-4 shootout triumph over the Flyers at the iconic Madison Square Garden on Saturday. This game was part of a Flyers road trip that ended with a 1-1-2 record.
Flyers vs. Rangers | Game Summary
Written by Dan Rosen
@drosennhl (https://www.x.com/drosennhl) NHL.com Senior Writer
December 20, 2025
NEW YORK -- Mika Zibanejad found the back of the net with a power-play goal in the waning moments of the third period, knotting the score at 4-4 with a blistering one-timer from the left circle. It marked his first tally in five contests.
The Rangers advanced to the shootout after successfully defending against two penalties during overtime.
"Honestly, I'm just thrilled we came out on top today," Zibanejad remarked.
Artemi Panarin netted a pair of goals and clinched the deciding shootout attempt, while Igor Shesterkin turned aside 28 shots to anchor the Rangers (18-15-4). This win was crucial for New York, which had dropped its last two home games and managed only a single goal combined in those outings.
The Rangers' home record stands at 5-10-3, and this marked only the sixth occasion in 18 home tilts where they produced three or more goals.
"We desperately needed this victory, particularly on our home ice," Panarin shared. "Everyone's aware of our struggles at The Garden this season. It's satisfying to secure this win, especially after such a dramatic rally."
PHI@NYR: Panarin, Trocheck propel Rangers to shootout success over Flyers
For the Flyers (17-10-7), Travis Sanheim tallied a power-play goal and added an assist, while rookie Denver Barkey contributed two helpers in his NHL debut. Samuel Ersson recorded 23 saves.
Philadelphia notched two power-play goals in the second period, snapping an eight-game drought in that category—they had gone 0-for-16 in the prior seven games.
Yet, the Flyers couldn't convert on 0-for-2 opportunities in overtime, despite advantages after infractions to Panarin and Scott Morrow.
"We were too sluggish on that 4-on-3," Flyers coach Rick Tocchet observed. "I felt we were handling the puck fine; we just need to master coping with pressure. It's a skill we've acknowledged from the season's outset that we must develop. We should have claimed two points instead of one."
And this is the part most people miss: The Flyers' inability to capitalize on those high-pressure overtime chances could be seen as a missed golden opportunity—some might argue it highlights a lack of composure under fire, while others might point to defensive lapses. What do you think—does this expose a deeper issue in their game management?
Panarin opened the scoring for the Rangers at 19:24 of the first period, but Sanheim responded in the second with a power-play marker from the left face-off dot, courtesy of a feed from Barkey, leveling the game at 1-1 at 6:42.
Just 23 seconds later, at 7:05, Barkey facilitated Owen Tippett's goal—a low shot that squeezed through the blocker from between the circles, putting Philadelphia ahead 2-1.
Tocchet expressed admiration for Barkey, who boasts 16 points in 26 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League and logged 15:18 on the ice. "His style of play and competitiveness—yes, I'll advocate for him," Tocchet stated.
Trevor Zegras expanded the Flyers' lead with a power-play strike at 10:18, pushing it to 3-1. Noah Cates won a face-off in the left circle, passing back to Jamie Drysdale, who swiftly directed it to Zegras for a one-timer from the top of the right circle.
PHI@NYR: Zegras achieves personal best with power-play goal
Panarin narrowed the gap to 3-2 at 12:23 with a shot from the right circle that eluded Ersson on the far side, but Rodrigo Abols restored Philadelphia's two-goal cushion at 14:36 with a short-handed goal during a 3-on-1 rush.
This represented the Flyers' inaugural short-handed tally of the season.
"In the second period, it was like we didn't have a goalie out there," Shesterkin admitted, taking responsibility for surrendering four goals on just 11 shots. "They were straightforward opportunities. I was frustrated, but I focused on regrouping to give our team a fighting chance.
“We excelled in the offensive zone today. I think I owe the whole squad a meal."
Shesterkin mentioned that the Rangers emphasized belief during their second intermission discussion.
"Each player entered the arena with a unified determination," he added.
Vincent Trocheck ignited the momentum by capitalizing on his own rebound to reduce the deficit to 4-3 at 9:13 of the third.
"That injected some fresh vitality into us," Zibanejad noted. "Belief is important, but you need tangible results to fuel the comeback. That goal provided exactly that spark, and it's what energized us. From there, we poured everything into chasing another, and luckily, we succeeded. It felt great."
New York evened the score when Rasmus Ristolainen was penalized for delay of game at 17:00. Scott Morrow assisted Zibanejad on the tying one-timer.
"I've launched better one-timers that didn't find the net," Zibanejad joked. "But in that critical game moment, it was perfect to see it go in."
PHI@NYR: Zibanejad unleashes powerful one-timer for late power-play tie
In the shootout, Panarin and Trocheck connected in the opening rounds, while Shesterkin denied attempts by Zegras and Travis Konecny.
"Facing two 4-on-3 situations in overtime, you have to deliver for your squad," Zegras lamented. "We simply didn't measure up."
ADDITIONAL NOTES: Rangers forward J.T. Miller exited the contest due to an upper-body injury from a hit to his right shoulder by Nick Seeler at 9:56 of the third. Coach Mike Sullivan indicated post-game that Miller was under evaluation, with no further details available at that time. … Zibanejad's tally marked his 115th power-play goal for New York, just one behind the franchise record shared by Camille Henry and Chris Kreider. … Zegras prolonged his point streak to seven games (accumulating nine points via five goals and four assists). … Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway was scratched for the first time this season, sitting out due to health reasons.
What a rollercoaster of a game! Do you agree that the Rangers' comeback spirit showcases unbeatable team resilience, or do you side with those who argue the Flyers' missed chances were a costly oversight? Could Barkey's debut signal a bright future for the Flyers, or is it just a flash in the pan? Share your opinions and join the debate in the comments below—let's hear what you think!
