The Flyers only played two games this week and, unfortunately, both were losses–though one was far more heartbreaking than the other. Still, getting a point out of two road games against the reigning champion Florida Panthers and regular season powerhouse Carolina Hurricanes isn’t the worst outcome. The Flyers, in their first game of the season, hung right with the Panthers; against the Canes, they got the game to overtime and lost after a goalie interference call overturned Bobby Brink’s would-be game-winning goal.
There were still a couple of positives to be had as we wrap up the first week of the 2025-26 season. Without further ado, here are your Three Stars of the Week.
3. Dan Vladar
.941 save percentage (SV%), 2 goals allowed, 1 game played
In a surprise move, Dan Vladar was given the nod for the Flyers’ first game of the regular season. It was a surprise because Sam Ersson, as up and down as his play can be, has a pretty impressive record against the Panthers–3-0-1 and a .924 SV%–and was viewed by many as the de facto starter. Vladar showed up to play in Sunrise, though, finishing the game against Florida with only two goals against on 34 shots and a .941 SV%. Per Evolving Hockey, Vladar saved .92 goals above expected, and he certainly looked the part. The Panthers were relentless, and Vladar stood tall throughout, but Sergei Bobrovsky outdueled him and the Flyers offense couldn’t muster more than one goal.
Vladar’s performance could be a sign of good things to come, too. The Flyers had the worst goaltending in the league last season, and even “average” would be a significant improvement. Vladar gets the third star because, despite the loss, he kept the Flyers in a game they probably had no business being in, and it could be the start of a decent run of goaltending for a team that so desperately needs it.
2. Travis Sanheim
1 goal, 3 shots on goal, 2 games played
The injuries to Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen have rendered the Flyers’ defense group depleted and, as a result, someone has had to step up and play the big minutes. That someone is Travis Sanheim, who played 27:15 against the Panthers and a whopping 29:34 in the overtime loss to the Hurricanes. Sanheim ripped the game-tying goal late in the third period, too, and would’ve had an assist on the game-winning goal that got overturned.
Obviously, the Flyers can’t keep running Sanheim out for nearly 30 minutes a game for an extended period of time; we saw at the start of the 2023-24 season that he wears down quickly under that sort of workload. Hopefully, York’s injury is not too serious and he’ll be able to rejoin the team shortly, taking some of the weight off Sanheim’s shoulders. In the meantime, though, Sanheim’s been on the second power play unit, killing penalties, and handling his 5-on-5 minutes with aplomb (53.2 expected Goals-for percentage, per Natural Stat Trick). He’s earned the second star of the week for excelling in the increased role.
1. Bobby Brink
1 goal, 1 assist, 4 shots on goal, 2 games played
Really, any of Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates, or Bobby Brink could’ve been given a star this week–that line has carried over its strong play from last season, and has looked the part of the Flyers’ best line to start this year. However, we awarded Noah Cates a star last week, and Foerster hasn’t scored a goal yet, so we’re giving the first star to Brink. He deserves it anyway, as a consolation prize for having his game winner overturned on a weak goalie interference call.
Point Brink range.#PHIvsCAR | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/eQXqbmdQhn
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 12, 2025
Both of Brink’s points this week came against Carolina, and his goal was a beauty. It started with Brink doing some gritty work along the boards, getting the puck back to Nikita Grebenkin (who got his first NHL point on the play, too!), who then passed it to Cates who set up Brink for an absolute snipe against Freddie Andersen. Brink was everywhere against the Canes, and he was rewarded with two points.
It’s a contract year for Brink, who will be an RFA this summer, and a strong start will go a long way to cementing him as a key piece of the Flyers for years to come. For now though, he’s our first star of the week.
