The orange-and-black are back as Flyers celebrate clinching 1st playoff spot since 2020

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Dan Vladar turned aside Carolina's fourth shootout attempt, threw his arms in the air and waited for the swarm of Flyers to mob him in celebration.

Every Flyer hopped the boards and rushed the ice as fans — almost all clad in orange — went wild in a celebration six years — and a long rebuild — in the making.

The Flyers skated to center ice and raised their sticks toward a packed and rowdy crowd that hasn’t enjoyed a home playoff series since 2018 as “CLINCHED!” flashed on the big screen.

Yes, Philadelphia — long ago one of the model franchises in the NHL — is indeed back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Tyson Foerster scored the only goal in the shootout to send Philadelphia to a 3-2 win over the Eastern Conference top seed Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night, setting up a first-round series with Sidney Crosby and Pittsburgh.

“It's going to be a lot of fun,” Owen Tippett said. “These guys in this room love each other. It's going to be a blast. But the job's not done.”

Reaching the postseason is a meaningful milestone for the Flyers and fans who endured many seasons of miserable hockey.

“It's been a lot of years," Flyers first-year coach Rick Tocchet said. “I feel for them, I really do. I get it. We could only do our part and try and build this thing. I understand their angst. Hopefully this gives them a little bit of belief.”

The Flyers played must-win hockey in the final week of the season. Chicago beat Philadelphia in 2010 for the Stanley Cup, and the Flyers never recovered, winning three playoff series headed into this season.

Only Toronto (1966-67) has suffered longer than any other team that has won at least one Stanley Cup.

The Flyers have been close: Philadelphia lost in the Cup finals in 1976, 1980, 1985, 1987, 1997 and 2010.

The architect of an overdue organizational overhaul, general manager Danny Briere, kept his eye on the future the last three seasons, refusing to yield his promising prospects for veterans that could have accelerated the rebuild.

The Flyers are loaded with young stars like Matvei Michkov, who scored against Carolina, and 19-year-old rookie Porter Martone. Both are expected to usher the Flyers into serious Stanley Cup contention in the future.

“I think the room’s in a good spot," Travis Konecny said. "A lot of the young guys that we have, to be honest with you, they’ve been farther ahead than you would expect. And they also play a professional style where they make the right plays at the right time.”

Perhaps the biggest for Briere was hiring Tocchet.

Tocchet played more than a decade with Philly in stints at the start and end of his career and turned modest playoff hopes into reality.

“I’m enjoying watching these games, win these pressure games,” Tocchet said. "As coach, like, I’m not nervous. I’m excited for these guys.”

Philadelphia has one of the longest championship droughts in the NHL, last winning the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975. Those “Broad Street Bullies” teams are a cherished part of the franchise’s past and a reminder of the time that passed since hoisting the trophy.

The Flyers needed two points over their final two games to clinch a playoff spot and trailed 2-0 against a Hurricanes team that got the point it needed to clinch the No. 1 seed in the East.

Michkov started the rally and Trevor Zegras scored on a power play later in the second period, tying the game.

After each team missed on their first three shootout attempts, Foerster delivered the winner that will be remembered as the most important goal over the last six seasons.

Foerster’s season was considered done following an injury in early December. The 24-year-old, who had a career-best 25 goals last season, missed 49 games, but recovered and returned this month.

Not all Flyers fans wore orange.

Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper watched the end of the shootout in the clubhouse after the Phillies’ 13-7 win over the Cubs.

“We’re all going to be behind them in their playoff run," Schwarber said. "Can’t wait to see them get out there. ... I don’t know if we’re ever going to be able to sneak over to a game, but hopefully we can.”

The Flyers finish the season Tuesday against Montreal before beginning preparation for Pittsburgh.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Philadelphia Flyers gather around the net of goalie Dan Vladar, second from left, to celebrate a win and clinching a playoff berth after an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Flyers right winger Tyson Foerster is honored with the first star of the game after an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Flyers goalie Dan Vladar reacts after a win in an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

The Philadelphia Flyers gather around the net of goalie Dan Vladar, top left, as they celebrate after making the playoffs after an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Flyers right winger Matvei Michkov, center, celebrates after his goal with defenseman Jamie Drysdale, left, and center Denver Barkey, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet was battered by the Minnesota Twins for 11 runs — 10 earned — and nine hits in 1 2/3 innings Monday night.

Crochet, a two-time All-Star who finished second in AL Cy Young Award voting last season, became the first Red Sox pitcher to allow 10 runs in less than two innings.

“My command, as a whole, has been spotty," Crochet said following a 13-6 loss. “I've gotten away with it a little this early in the year, but tonight they made me pay. It was weak contact, hard contact, walks, hit by pitch — a little bit of everything."

The 26-year-old left-hander gave up four runs, three earned, in a 31-pitch first inning. Minnesota scored seven more in the second before Crochet was removed with two outs and Boston trailing 11-0.

“I don’t really have one thing to point to,” Crochet said. “I feel like I had a good approach. It was all pitch types that I felt like they were absolutely smothering."

Victor Caratini hit his first home run for the Twins in the second, a three-run drive off the facing of the third deck in left field. Light-hitting infielder Ryan Kreidler ended Crochet's night with his third career home run, a solo shot into the second deck in left.

“As a manager, it’s hard to watch. It was kind of like, OK, when are we going to take him out, you know?” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “At the same time, you still have to cover innings and keep the bullpen quote-unquote fresh, knowing that there’s two more games in the series.”

Crochet walked three, hit a batter with a pitch and failed to record a strikeout for the first time in 68 career starts. His season ERA climbed to 7.58 after he entered 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA through three starts.

“I'm just going to flush it as best I can and move on to the next one,” Crochet said. “They had a good approach.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (35) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Monday, April 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (35) winds up to deliver during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Monday, April 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (35) stands in the mound as Minnesota Twins' Ryan Kreidler (5) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, April 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Boston Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet, front right, hands the ball to manager Alex Cora (13) for a pitching change during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)