Owen Tippett had one of those games. The Philadelphia Flyers winger might not have been on the score sheet a whole lot against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night, but he was all over the ice and showed just how he can take over a game using all the tools he has.
At the end of the night, Tippett scored one goal, an empty netter at that. He added an assist on an extremely pretty goal by Trevor Zegras. And Tippett was third among Flyers forwards with 16:40 ice time, behind Christian Dvorak (19:44) and Travis Konecny (19:01). But there was no Philadelphia player who dominated each of the 23 shifts he was a part of. Simply put, Tippett took the Flyers on his shoulders and beat Washington 4-1. He took just over 27 per cent of the team’s 22 shots (six) and he skated 2.85 miles according to NHL Edge, the most he’s skated in the last 10 games.
To see a forward who has both the physicality and the speed, not to mention what can be a lethal shot, should be something the Flyers are looking forward to keeping with the club given their glut of wingers. Tippett would probably be a key piece in landing a top-end center. But after a game like last night against Washington, would you really be comfortable giving up that potential? Particularly at the rather low, low price of $6.2 million for another six seasons. And also having recently turned 27!
Have a night, OT! #WSHvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/QH6yngmJyf
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 12, 2026
While the rather low-key Tippett somewhat downplayed his contribution to Philadelphia’s 4-1 win over Washington, he might have been the only one who wasn’t singing his praises. This included Konecny who was quick to point out what everyone else could see: Tippett was going to get the job done on this night, come hell or high water.
“Oh yeah it’s scary,” Konecny, celebrating another birthday last night, said regarding Tippett’s game. “I mean if I were them I’d just skate to the bench to not eat the minus. I mean it’s crazy, I’ve never seen anything like it — the speed, the shot, that combination. It’s unbelievable.”
Flyers’ Owen Tippett used his speed and size to create magic
Tippett’s speed has rarely been in doubt. Yet he sometimes has to get himself into that extra gear later in the game, not right from the opening faceoff. He also brought a lot of physical presence on this night, battling the notorious tough (and sporadically cheap) Washington winger Tom Wilson and company and not afraid to stand up for himself. Wilson’s hit on Travis Konecny served as a catalyst for Philadelphia’s response.
Nobody led the response more than Tippett, using his body in a way that Konecny noticed a little bit more on this night than usual.
“I mean I think that’s the next step for him, if he brings that every night, I mean he starts giving himself more space, he just has to use his legs because when he plays physical, guys are kind of playing off him a little bit and then his skill takes over. He’s just got so much potential and I love when you see him realize it during a game. It’s like, ‘I guess this is my game and I’m taking over.’ It’s fun to watch and again he’s just an awesome player, an awesome guy.”
Konecny, who looked no worse for wear after Wilson’s hit but might be feeling it today in Minneapolis, said it’s great when Tippett has that swagger or confidence that often means the Flyers are in for a good night.
“I just love it when you see him do it early in a game and he says, ‘This is my game tonight. I’m going to be this way the whole night,” Konecny says. “He’s a pretty quiet guy, super, super nice and it’s hard to piss him off. But when you do you just get out of the way.”
Speaking for himself, Tippett said he sometimes doesn’t want to deliver a huge hit just to end up getting caught up-ice while the opposition has an odd-man rush. There’s a time and place for everything, but the forward appears to be finding that time and place a whole lot more this season than he did in his first few seasons with Philadelphia.
“You know it’s one of those things where obviously it’s situational at times too,” Tippett said. “But when I think you kind of get a jump you can get loose a little early it gives you the confidence to keep going throughout the game. My legs were good. In years past I would look to hit too much but now I’m trying to pick my spots and not get out of position.”
Breakaway bonanza
Tippett also was crucial and a pretty give-and-go string of passes in the second period on a two-man breakaway. Zegras echoed a lot of what Konecny said, praising #74 for using his skill set to the max.
“He’s the best,” Zegras said. “He’s literally the best. When that guy is skating I’ve never seen anything like it. And to play with him is such a treat, he had like six breakaways today, it’s crazy. He fell down on the two-on-zero and he was still skating faster than me.”
OT 🤝 TZ#WSHvsPHI | @Xfinity pic.twitter.com/EOjWpefVEv
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 12, 2026
“The guy’s a stud, he’s an absolute horse for us,” defenseman Jamie Drysdale (who also scored a pretty goal in the third) said of Tippett. “The way he’s been playing this year as a whole. Tonight as well, I think he went end to end 50 times this game. Every time he touches the puck he’s a threat. I wouldn’t want to be a defenseman on an opposing team going with that guy with a head of steam. He led the way tonight and had a great game.”
Perhaps the craziest aspect of seeing Tippett’s speed throughout most of last night was that none of those rushes were in the top 10 in terms of his fastest this season. On Feb. 3 against Washington, Tippett was clocked at 23.40 miles per hour. He’s hit 23 miles per hour or more four times this season. Whether he hits those speeds tonight against Minnesota remains to be seen, particularly on the road and in a back-to-back situation. If he’s capable of a game like he had last night more often than not the rest of the way, then Philadelphia still might have a bit of a pulse yet.
Oh, and needless to say, he wore the mask last night in the locker room. As if there was anyone else in the running!
A Tipp-top game from No. 74. 👏#WSHvsPHI | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/lGlQB7lkwa
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 12, 2026
