Flyers' Dan Vladar: Ends season in impressive fashion
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Vladar made 37 saves Saturday in a 3-2 overtime loss to Carolina in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Vladar was the game's third star -- he was absolutely pelted with pucks. Yes, the Canes swept the Flyers in four, but not because of Vladar -- his mates managed only five goals in those four games. The 2025-26 campaign was the season of Vladar. The former member of the Flames went 29-14-7 with a 2.42 GAA and .906 save percentage in 51 starts this past regular season, and a 4-6 playoff record with an amazing 2.18 GAA and .922 save percentage. Vladar has been a solid fit to backstop head coach Rick Tocchet's aggressive style. He's going to be a target on draft day next year.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Expected to start Saturday
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Vladar is slated to start at home against Carolina for Game 4 on Saturday, per Ryan Henkel of The Hockey News.
Vladar is 4-5 with a 2.11 GAA and a .921 save percentage in nine playoff outings this year. While those overall postseason numbers look good, he's been less effective against Carolina in the second round, going 0-3 while allowing 10 goals on 96 shots (.896 save percentage). The Flyers need a win Saturday to avoid elimination. Carolina is 7-0 and has averaged 3.00 goals per game in the 2026 postseason.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Set to start Game 3
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Vladar is expected to patrol the crease at home for Game 3 versus the Hurricanes on Thursday, Jackie Spiegel of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Vladar has given up three goals in four of his last five outings, all losses, while recording a 42-save shutout in the fifth. While the 28-year-old backstop did enough to get the Flyers past in-state rival Pittsburgh in the first round, head coach Rick Tocchet may have to consider giving Samuel Ersson a look if Vladar comes out flat again in Game 3.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Series slipping away quickly
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Vladar stopped 26 of 30 shots in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 3.
Vladar has lost all three games in the second round, giving up 10 goals on 95 shots in those defeats. The netminder is still 4-5 for the postseason, but this was the first time he's allowed more than three goals in a playoff game this year, so he's not trending in the right direction. It's looking likely that the Flyers are simply not on the same level as the Hurricanes. Vladar is likely to get the chance to save the season in Saturday's Game 4.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Downed in OT by Carolina
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Vladar made 40 saves Monday in the Flyers' 3-2 overtime loss to the Hurricanes in Game 2 of their second-round series.
Philadelphia grabbed a 2-0 lead before five minutes had elapsed in the first period, but Vladar couldn't make it hold up as he faced his highest shot volume yet in the postseason. The 28-year-old netminder still hasn't given up more than three goals in any of his eight playoff starts so far, posting a dazzling 1.89 GAA and .929 save percentage, but he and the Flyers are down two games to none as the series shifts to Philly for Game 3 on Thursday.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Starting Game 2
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Vladar will start Monday's Game 2 on the road against Carolina.
Vladar drew the Game 1 start in Carolina and allowed three goals on 23 shots (.870 save percentage) in the 3-0 loss. However, he posted shutouts in two of his six first-round appearances and will attempt to bounce back in Game 2 of the second round Monday.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Allows three goals in loss
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Vladar stopped 20 of 23 shots in Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 1 of the second round.
Vladar and the Flyers were down 2-0 by the 7:30 mark of the first period as the Hurricanes' second line showed no rust after a week off. While Vladar was able to settle in after that, the Flyers' offense made no inroads against the Hurricanes' defensive structure, totaling just 19 shots on net for the game. Vladar would have to really struggle to lose his spot as the Flyers' No. 1 goalie. He's 4-3 this postseason and has allowed no more than three goals in any of his seven games so far. Expect him back between the pipes for Game 2 on Monday.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Slated starter Saturday
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Vladar is expected to start on the road in Game 1 against Carolina on Saturday.
Vladar went 4-2 while posting a 1.61 GAA and a .937 save percentage in six appearances against Pittsburgh in the first round. Although he did excel against the Penguins, Carolina is another challenging adversary. Pittsburgh ranked third in goals per game during the 2025-26 regular season with an average of 3.54, while Carolina finished second at 3.55. Vladar did well against the Hurricanes in the 2025-26 regular season, going 1-0-1 while stopping 54 of 58 shots (.931 save percentage).
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Blanks Pens in OT win Wednesday
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Vladar stopped all 42 shots he faced Wednesday during the Flyers' 1-0 overtime win over the Penguins in Game 6 of their first-round series.
The 28-year-old has been brilliant while carrying Philly to its first playoff series win since 2019-20, but Vladar raised his game to another level in the clincher as he recorded his second clean sheet of the first round and set a new season high for saves in a single game. The former Flame has had a breakout campaign with the Flyers, and he'll take a 1.61 GAA and .937 save percentage in the playoffs into a second-round clash with the Hurricanes.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: First goalie off Wednesday
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Vladar was the first goalie to exit the home ice ahead of Game 6 against the Penguins on Wednesday, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports, indicating he'll be in goal.
Vladar has given up six goals on 42 shots (.857 save percentage) in back-to-back losses to the Penguins. Overall, the 28-year-old netminder is sporting a 2.03 GAA and .914 save percentage this playoffs, including one shutout. He'll have his third crack at closing out Philadelphia's opening-round series versus the Penguins on Wednesday.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Bad bounce leads to Game 5 loss
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Vladar made 18 saves Monday in the Flyers' 3-2 loss to the Penguins in Game 5 of their first-round series.
After falling into a 2-0 hole, Philly rallied for two goals in the second period to tie it up, but the momentum was short-lived. Late in the second frame, Kris Letang flipped a shot from the point that went wide of the net but then kicked off the boards, pinballed off Vladar's pads and trickled across the goal line for the game-winner. The 28-year-old netminder has yet to allow more than three goals in any game in the series, and he'll take a 2.03 GAA and .913 save percentage for the postseason into Game 6 on Wednesday as the Flyers try again to advance to the second round.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Tending twine in Game 5
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Vladar will defend the road net in Game 5 against Pittsburgh on Monday, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Vladar stopped 17 of 20 shots in Game 4's 4-2 loss to the Penguins on Saturday, with the fourth goal being an empty-netter. He has gone 3-1 this postseason, allowing only seven goals on 94 shots. The Flyers can advance to the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with one more victory.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Takes first loss of playoffs
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Vladar allowed three goals on 20 shots in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Penguins in Game 4. The fourth goal was an empty-netter.
Vladar was questionable due to an arm injury sustained in Game 3, but he was able to play. It's unclear how much that injury might have impacted his performance in this contest. The 28-year-old is 3-1 this postseason, allowing just seven goals on 94 shots over four contests. Assuming the injury concern doesn't resurface, Vladar will likely be between the pipes again for Game 5 in Pittsburgh on Monday.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Tending twine in Game 4
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Vladar (arm) will patrol the home crease against Pittsburgh on Saturday in Game 4, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Vladar appeared to sustain an injury to his right arm in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 4. However, he will return to the crease in Saturday's matchup with a chance to advance to Round 2 with a victory. Vladar has gone 3-0 this postseason while stopping 70 of 74 shots.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Game-time call for Saturday
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Vladar (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision in Game 4 versus Pittsburgh on Saturday, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports.
Vladar has not practiced the last two days after stopping 27 shots in a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday, giving Philadelphia a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Vladar has been outstanding in the series, posting a 1.33 GAA and a .946 save percentage. He was 29-14-7 with a 2.42 GAA and a .906 save percentage across 52 regular-season appearances in 2025-26. Should Vladar sit out Saturday, look for Samuel Ersson to get the start in goal.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Sharp in Game 3 win
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Vladar made 28 saves Wednesday during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.
Both Pittsburgh goals came on power plays in the first and third periods, as Vladar was a wall at even strength to help propel Philadelphia to the verge of a series sweep. The 28-year-old netminder has a dazzling 1.33 GAA and .947 save percentage to begin his postseason run, and he'll look to finish the job on home ice Saturday in Game 4 and punch the Flyers' tickets to the second round.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Slated to start in Game 3
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Vladar is expected to start at home against the Penguins on Wednesday in Game 3 of their first-round series, per Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Vladar earned a 27-save shutout over the Penguins in Game 2 after turning aside 16 of 18 shots in the series opener. His efforts have enabled Philadelphia to take a 2-0 series lead. He finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 29-14-7 record, 2.42 GAA and .906 save percentage in 52 appearances. While Vladar has done well in the 2026 playoffs, Pittsburgh still figures to be a challenging adversary going forward. The Penguins finished third in goals per game during the regular season with an average of 3.54.
Vladar stopped all 27 shots he faced Monday during the Flyers' 3-0 win over the Penguins in Game 2 of their first-round series.
It was a stellar performance from the 28-year-old netminder, who recorded his first career playoff shutout. Vladar has given up just two goals on 44 shots to begin the Flyers' postseason run, and he's led his team to a commanding 2-0 lead as the series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Wednesday.
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Flyers' Dan Vladar: Tending twine for Game 2
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Vladar will start Game 2 on the road against Pittsburgh on Monday, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Vladar had a hot streak to close out the regular season, and he maintained his momentum in Game 1 of the Flyers' first-round series, turning aside 15 of 17 shots (.882 save percentage) in Saturday's road win over Pittsburgh. Across his last seven outings, he's gone 6-1-0 with a 1.84 GAA and .917 save percentage.
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