The Philadelphia Flyers’ power play were comically inept in the previous three seasons before 2025-26. John Tortorella stood by Rocky Thompson, and Thompson stood by what was nothing short of a gong show with the man advantage. It was surprising officials didn’t call gross misconducts on Philadelphia as the power play was that ugly to watch. But with a new coach in Rick Tocchet, and a new acquisition in Trevor Zegras, the Flyers power play has been decent 12 games into the season. It still needs work, but there appears to be a bit more light at the end of what was once an extremely dark, dreadful tunnel.
The acquisition of Zegras had some people drooling about the notion that Zegras and Matvei Michkov would be joined at the hip and work magic on the power play. Well, there’s a lot of games left. And that could still happen. But so far Zegras has been the straw stirring the Flyers’ power play drink. Of the seven power play goals Philadelphia has scored, Zegras has scored two of them. He has a primary assist and three secondary assists, meaning he has registered a point on six of the seven power play goals. Elsewhere, Michkov has one secondary assist, Owen Tippett has a goal, and Travis Konecny has a primary assist on Tippett’s goal. That’s nine out of a possible 21 points (including primary and secondary assists).
The remaining 12 points are attributed to Noah Cates (1 goal, 2 assists), Bobby Brink (1 goal, 2 assists), Tyson Foerster (2 goals), and Cam York (four assists). Add to that the fact Tippett’s power play goal was the result of a rather odd bounce that came to him in front and you realize just how effective one unit has been compared to the other. It’s safe to say that, so far, there has been one unit that has been producing nearly all of the power play goals. And one that is still looking to get off the ground. Or simply unwilling to get out of their own way and change.
Tocchet’s telling quote
On Oct. 25, following the Flyers shootout win over the Islanders, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet was asked about the power play units. But even he wasn’t convinced which unit was the first power play unit. “I’m not sure whose first and second right now,” he said at the time. “You can say it but I’m not sure yet. It’s one and one right now. I think they took the information before they went out. I think Yogi and Jay said what they said, what the Islanders did. And we got to the puck to the net and obviously it worked in our favor. But it’s taking that information and then applying it, and that line does that. The Cates line, they do apply a lot of what we say.”
Prior to the Calgary game, the Flyers scored in four consecutive games, which ranked second only to Detroit in terms of current consecutive games with a goal on the man advantage. Heading into Montreal on Tuesday night, Philadelphia was clicking at 18.9 per cent. Unfortunately, with a few short handed goals against, their power play net percentage is just 13.5 which is twenty-second overall. They’ve scored seven goals on 37 power play opportunities through 12 games.
During those 12 games, the Flyers have shown signs that they can manage to generate something off the power play. They have also managed, depending on the unit, to remain steadfast in their refusal to either make quick, high-percentage decisions or passes. Or simply take the shot when the shot is there to take. Although it’s only an eye test, and it remains early in the season, the unit that has featured the line of Noah Cates, Bobby Brink, and Tyson Foerster, Cam York (and Zegras the last few weeks) seem capable of making quick passes while also trying to work those passes down low or to the bumper.
A few examples of what’s working
A good example of this change in style from the previously ridiculously deliberate blueprint of past seasons was during the Seattle game. With the score tied 1-1, the Flyers scored on the power play when Tyson Foerster beat Kraken goalie Joey Daccord. As shown below, the Flyers made six different passes (or attempted passes) in a 10 second span. That might not seem like a lot, but every pass resulted in the Kraken being just a little bit behind the play. The passes went from York to Zegras, Zegras finding a cross-ice seam to Brink, Brink back to York, York with an errant pass to Brink, Foerster to Brink, then Brink to Foerster who scored on a glove-side wrister.
Tyson Foerster – Philadelphia Flyers (2)
— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) October 20, 2025
Power Play Goal pic.twitter.com/tDuioQPnpQ
On Oct. 28 against the Penguins, the same unit struck again and hit paydirt. Although the entire power play isn’t shown, the clip below shows the unit making short, high-percentage passes. Noah Cates passes the puck back to York. From there it’s York to Zegras, Zegras quickly down to Cates down low. Cates, with good body positioning, gets the shot off in close before Brink comes in to collect the rebound. What’s also apparent is the unit’s willingness to keep moving and not stay stationary. Zegras starts off as the bumper before heading out, letting Brink slide into the same spot seconds later.
Bobby Brink – Philadelphia Flyers (3)
— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) October 29, 2025
Power Play Goal pic.twitter.com/dEZjsSfJP1
Finally, in the Oct. 25 game against the New York Islanders, the same unit struck again. And this was what Tocchet was talking about. This time Brink took the puck and appeared to be leaning towards passing it back to the point. However he turned back towards the net and got into a high danger area, breaking into the box without being touched. More importantly, Brink was willing to take a hit, stick, or anything else that was coming to get into that area and get a shot off. Brink and Zegras were at the ready for a possible rebound which they got. Then both got their noses dirty battling for the puck. Seconds later, with Brink down in the crease and an Islander wrapping an arm around the neck of Zegras, Zegras put the rebound in with Cates also poking for the puck.
Trevor Zegras – Philadelphia Flyers (2)
— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) October 25, 2025
Power Play Goal pic.twitter.com/eHDI8ml2K3
Second unit now first unit? Seems that way
The power play time to start the season tilted a bit towards Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Matvei Michkov, Jamie Drysdale, and Zegras. However, by the second game, the Cates unit (sans Zegras) seemed a bit more alluring. In Carolina the Cates line, Sanheim, and Couturier averaged between 1:37 to 1:55 power play time. In that time the Cates unit had 100 per cent share of the shot attempts (5-0) compared to the other unit which was at a 50 per cent share (2-2).
Tocchet might have made his biggest statement in deciding who was getting more power play time against the Islanders and the Penguins. In just over five minutes of power play time against New York, Zegras, Foerster, Cates, York, and Brink averaged just over three minutes of power play time. Meanwhile the other unit was just a hair over two minutes. Against the Penguins, the Cates line, York, and Sanheim averaged over 3:22 of ice time on the power play compared to roughly 1:09 seconds for the other unit. And in the tenth game against Nashville, the Flyers had three seconds of power play time. They scored on a great one-timer from Zegras against the Predators.
So, with the eye test, execution and effectiveness seemingly leaning towards Cates, Brink, Foerster, York and Zegras, it would be foolish for Tocchet to try to switch the unit up if it’s the only one doing something. Of course the injury to Foerster will be a fly in the ointment, leaving Tocchet needing to switch things up until he returns. But so far, it’s pretty apparent that the Flyers first unit power play isn’t the unit many would’ve suspected heading into training camp. If the talent that is taking up a large chunk of the salary cap on one unit begins to live up to expectations, it’s safe to say the Flyers will be moving from the middle of the pack in the National Hockey League to possibly in the top half or beyond. Philadelphia’s power play has miles to go to be in the same sentence as Edmonton’s the last few years. But it seems headed in the right direction.
All stats courtesy of NaturalStatTrick
