The Flyers earned it — the game and the expected-goals battle both.
The Flyers won 3–2 in a shootout, but the underlying play was far more one-sided than the final score suggests. Philadelphia controlled 59% of expected goals (3.95–2.76) and nearly tripled Carolina's high-danger chances (9 to 4). Yet both offenses underperformed their metrics: the Flyers by 0.95 goals, the Hurricanes by 0.76. B. Bussi's exceptional goaltending—1.95 goals above expected—compressed a dominant performance into a single-goal win.
The Flyers' offensive advantage was unmistakable. They generated 0.084 expected goals per shot, compared to Carolina's 0.039, signaling far superior shot quality. On rushes, both teams were lethal: Philadelphia scored 2 goals on 23 rush chances, while Carolina also managed 2 on 28. Where the imbalance mattered was in set-play efficiency—the Flyers dominated from dangerous areas, while Bussi kept his team afloat.
The Hurricanes' offense found its moments. They converted 2 of 4 high-danger chances (50%), capitalizing when opportunities arose. Yet the possession battle belonged to Philadelphia: they held 47% of shot attempts (23–26 on net) and translated that into cleaner looks. D. Vladar (PHI) recorded 24 saves on 26 shots (0.923 SV%, +0.76 vs. expected) to close out the win; Bussi finished 21 of 23 (0.913 SV%).
Tyson Foerster's snap shot from the high slot in the shootout decided it—a moment that crystallized Philadelphia's ability to generate from premium ice. The Flyers converted their dominance into a result, if barely.