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Oilers matinee woes continue in 5-2 loss to Flyers: Recap, Reaction and Highlights
Edmonton Oilers Philadelphia Flyers
Photo credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
Zach Laing
Jan 3, 2026, 18:15 ESTUpdated: Jan 3, 2026, 18:24 EST
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Death, taxes and the Edmonton Oilers struggling in matinee games.
The Oilers welcomed the Philadelphia Flyers to Rogers Place on Saturday afternoon for Game 42, officially kicking off the second half of their season. But much like the Oilers started the first half, they were flat, falling 5-2.
Matinees haven’t been kind to the Oilers in recent years, as with Saturday’s lost, they’ve fallen to 5-10 in weekend afternoon games.
Let’s take a look at what happened.
Despite the Oilers having a solid first few minutes of the game, Flyers rookie winger Denver Barkey would be the one to open the scoring just over seven minutes into the game, notching his first NHL goal. He found some space in the middle of the ice on a Flyers breakout, sneaking past Darnell Nurse, and a lethargic Jack Roslovic wasn’t able to catch him as he cashed in a quick feed from Owen Tippett.
Just over three minutes later, defenceman Travis Sanheim would make it 2-0, wiring a shot past Calvin Pickard.
That lead would extend to 3-0 with five minutes left in the period, the Oilers forwards were caught up the ice when Bouchard’s breakout pass was picked off, leading to a four-on-three going back into Edmonton’s end. Cam York found a soft spot in the middle of the ice, shovelling the puck towards the net as it bounced off Bobby Brink’s skate and in.
A minute later, Nurse finally got the fight he’s been looking for for weeks, dropping the gloves with tough guy Garnet Hathaway where the pair rag dolled each other without much damage being done. You can see the scrap on HockeyFights.
The scrap lit a bit of a fire in the Oilers’ bellies, as Connor McDavid would get sprung on a breakaway, letting a shot go that beat Dan Vladar clean.
Edmonton pushed in the second generating some of their best looks, and with Flyers winger Matvei Michkov in the penalty box for high-sticking Mattias Janmark, Evan Bouchard let a Bouch Bomb go from the point that found its way home for his eighth of the season.
Speaking of shots from the point, Nick Seeler scored the Flyers’ fourth of the night nine minutes into the third period. Rodrigo Abols won a faceoff back to the point and a soft shot from Seeler found its way into the back of the net.
Owen Tippett would add an empty net goal to seal it.

Takeaways…

  • That was nothing short of a lifeless performance as a whole from the Oilers, who once again come up flat in an afternoon game. Two of the Flyers’ goals came off the rush and transition game — an area the Oilers just can’t seem to clean up.
  • Nurse’s scrap came at a great time and gave the group some jump. He’s been itching for one for a while, and was on the ice for the first two Flyers’ goals. He said during a first intermission interview with Gene Principe that he wasn’t doing much out there, and wanted to provide a spark. You could say that again.
  • The Kid Line played 6:42 together at five-on-five, getting outshot 7-1, and outscored 1-0. They spent their minutes against the third and fourth lines, and that fourth line is a handful with a few big bodies there. The second line of Leon Drasiaitl, Jack Roslovic and Vasily Podkolzon, meanwhile, had a tough day, getting outshot 7-3 and outscored 2-0.
  • Edmonton will have a chance to get back in the win column Tuesday when the Nashville Predators roll into town.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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