Flyers Edge Kings in Shootout for 4th Win in 5 Games

Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov scored in the shootout to lift Philadelphia over Los Angeles.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 5:55am

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The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in a shootout on Thursday night, marking their fourth victory in five games. Noah Cates had a goal and an assist for the Flyers, while Travis Konecny and Travis Sanheim also scored. Samuel Ersson made 22 saves for Philadelphia, who remain six points behind Boston and Detroit for the two Eastern Conference wild-card spots. Artemi Panarin scored a goal and added an assist for the Kings, who moved into the second wild card in the Western Conference despite the loss.

Why it matters

The Flyers' recent surge has kept them in the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference, while the Kings' point in the shootout loss helped them maintain their position in the Western Conference wild-card race. This was an important inter-conference matchup with postseason implications for both teams.

The details

In the shootout, Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov scored for the Flyers, while Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin were denied by Samuel Ersson. The Flyers were shorthanded, playing with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen due to injuries to Sean Couturier, Luke Glendening, and Denver Barkey. Panarin's power-play goal with 9:32 remaining in regulation tied the game at 3-3 and forced overtime.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

The players

Trevor Zegras

A center for the Philadelphia Flyers who scored in the shootout to give his team the win.

Matvei Michkov

A forward for the Philadelphia Flyers who also scored in the shootout to help his team defeat the Kings.

Noah Cates

A left wing for the Philadelphia Flyers who had a goal and an assist in the game.

Artemi Panarin

A forward for the Los Angeles Kings who scored a goal and added an assist in the losing effort.

Anze Kopitar

A center for the Los Angeles Kings who scored a goal in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

The takeaway

This game showcased the tight playoff races in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, with the Flyers and Kings battling to stay in the wild-card hunt. The Flyers' ability to win a close shootout on the road against a tough opponent like the Kings demonstrates their resilience and determination to make a late-season push for the playoffs.