Flyers Top Red Wings 5-3 as Tippett Scores Hat Trick

Philadelphia survives late Detroit rally to boost playoff hopes

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:59am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Owen Tippett scored a hat trick to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. The Flyers built a 4-0 lead before Detroit mounted a late comeback, but Philadelphia held on for the key win that keeps them in the playoff hunt.

Why it matters

The Flyers' win over the Red Wings is crucial as both teams are jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. Philadelphia is now just three points behind Columbus for the second wild-card spot, while Detroit remains tied with Ottawa and one point ahead of the Flyers.

The details

Tippett scored his three goals in the first two periods to give the Flyers a commanding 4-0 lead. Detroit made it close with three goals in a 2:31 span late in the third period, but Philadelphia's Sean Couturier sealed the win with an empty-net goal. The Flyers' victory came despite having a goal disallowed for offside in the third period.

  • The Flyers took a 1-0 lead just 4:07 into the game.
  • Tippett scored his second goal at 12:22 of the second period.
  • Noah Cates put the Flyers up 3-0 with a power-play goal late in the second period.
  • Tippett completed his hat trick with a power-play goal at 7:19 of the third period.
  • Detroit scored three goals in a 2:31 span late in the third period to make it a one-goal game.

The players

Owen Tippett

A forward for the Philadelphia Flyers who scored a hat trick in the game.

Sean Couturier

A forward for the Philadelphia Flyers who scored an empty-net goal to seal the win.

John Gibson

The goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings who made 18 saves in the game.

Mason Appleton

A forward for the Detroit Red Wings who scored one of the team's three late goals.

Moritz Seider

A defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings who had a turnover that led to the Flyers' first goal.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew Detroit would make a push, but we were able to hold them off and get the two points. That's huge for us right now.”

— Owen Tippett, Flyers Forward

What’s next

The Flyers will host the Dallas Stars on Sunday, while the Red Wings will visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.

The takeaway

This win keeps the Flyers in the thick of the Eastern Conference wild-card race, as they now sit just three points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second spot. The Red Wings, meanwhile, missed an opportunity to gain ground on their playoff rivals.