Flyers Postgame Report: Foerster Nets Hat Trick, Flyers Defeat Rangers

Entering Wednesday’s game, the Flyers are already destined for the offseason after the next five games. The Rangers‘ playoff hopes were hanging on by a thread. After two periods, a 2-2 tie would need to be broken to determine the end result.

The third period featured nine goals between the two teams, including six for the Flyers, as they defeated the Rangers, 8-5, with Tyson Foerster scoring his first career hat trick in the process.

The Rangers opened the scoring in the first. Vincent Trocheck scored his 23rd goal of the season shorthanded to make it 1-0 at 11:33.

Through 20 minutes, shots were 12-5 Rangers.

The Flyers tied the game at 9:03 of the second. Foerster reached the 20-goal mark with a shot from the high slot to even things at one.

With 3:17 left in the period, the Flyers took the lead with a shorthanded goal of their own. Garnet Hathaway had a shot leak through Jonathan Quick and in for his ninth goal of the season to make it 2-1 Flyers.

The Rangers evened things up with 1:28 remaining in the period, as Artemi Panarin scored his 300th career goal and 35th of the season to make it a 2-2 game.

Through two periods, shots were 22-13 Rangers.

The Flyers were back in front at 3:05 of the third. Travis Sanheim picked up a rebound for his eighth goal of the season to make it 3-2.

At 5:38, Jonny Brodzinski answered to tie the game at three with his 11th goal of the season. Less than two minutes later, the Rangers took the lead at 7:01 of the third on J.T. Miller‘s 20th goal of the season.

The Flyers tied the game back up a minute later at 8:01, as Jakob Pelletier was able to get a loose puck and put it home for his sixth goal of the season.

At 11:55, the Flyers took the lead again. Sean Couturier put a rebound home for his 15th of the season to make it 5-4.

With 4:27 remaining, Foerster added his second of the game on a one-timer to make it 6-4.

The Rangers pulled the goalie and got the margin back to one as Chris Kreider scored his 21st of the season with 1:50 remaining to make it 6-5.

Foerster put the game away with his hat-trick goal and 22nd of the season at 19:05. Owen Tippett also added an empty-net goal to cap the scoring.

Aleksei Kolosov made 24 saves on 29 shots in the win. Quick made 21 saves on 27 shots in the loss.

Seven Flyers finished with multi-point games. Mika Zibanejad had four assists for the Rangers.

The Flyers return to action on home ice on Saturday afternoon against the New York Islanders at 12:30 p.m.