Zegras scores twice against former team, Flyers defeat Ducks

Trevor Zegras scored two goals for the Philadelphia Flyers in a 5-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Zegras was playing his first game against the Ducks, with whom he spent his first five NHL seasons, since they traded him to the Flyers on June 23, 2025.

“It was a tough ending for me [in Anaheim]," Zegras said. "I’ve been looking forward to this game for a long time.”

Cam York and Nikita Grebenkin each had a goal and an assist, Noah Cates had two assists, and Dan Vladar made 16 saves for the Flyers (22-12-7), who extended their home point streak to five games (3-0-2).

Cutter Gauthier and Alex Killorn scored, Jackson LaCombe and Troy Terry each had two assists, and Lukas Dostal made 34 saves for the Ducks (21-19-3), who have lost seven in a row (0-6-1).

"First and foremost, our compete just has to be better," LaCombe said. "That's just a key that we have to figure out and come together and do. ... There's always areas you can clean up, but I think for us that's kind of our biggest thing."

Gauthier gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead at 4:15 of the first period when he used a screen by Chris Kreider to score on a one-timer from just above the right circle while on a power play.

It was Gauthier's first goal in three games against the Flyers, who selected him with the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft before trading him to Anaheim on Jan. 8, 2024.

"There was nobody really covering me, so I let it rip," Gauthier said. "'Kreids' had a great screen, so thankfully it went in."

Zegras, who was selected with the No. 9 pick by the Ducks in the 2019 NHL Draft, tied it 1-1 at 10:22. He received a pass from Christian Dvorak on a rush that allowed him to put a snap shot over the glove of Dostal from the right face-off circle.

Zegras scored his second goal at 14:23 while on a power play to put the Flyers ahead 2-1. York faked a shot in front and instead gave Zegras the puck with a no-look pass at the right face-off dot, where Zegras scored with a sharp-angled wrist shot.

"I missed last year's game (in Philadelphia), but I heard all about it and I was fired up to play in this one," Zegras said. "The boos were great but the cheers were even better."

York pushed the lead to 3-1 at 1:15 of the second period. He collected a pass at the point, cut back to his forehand and threaded through a long-range shot.

Ducks forward Ross Johnston was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for interference after colliding with Jamie Drysdale at 2:39 of the second period. Drysdale did not return.

The Ducks killed the major penalty, but Travis Sanheim scored on a one-timer from above the right circle off a face-off win to make it 4-1 at 14:40.

Killorn scored for the second straight game with a snap shot from the inside edge of the left circle while on a power play to cut it 4-2 at 1:25 of the third period.

Anaheim killed a 45-second, 5-on-3 power play later in the third before Grebenkin scored into an empty net with 1:14 left for the 5-2 final.

The Ducks committed 11 total penalties, killing eight of the nine power plays for Philadelphia.

"We have to be disciplined, for sure," LaCombe said. "We can't win hockey games taking (11) penalties, whatever it was."

The Flyers also lost forward Bobby Brink to an upper-body injury following a hit by Ducks forward Jansen Harkins at 2:32 of the first period. Flyers coach Rick Tocchet did not have an update on Brink or Drysdale after the game.

Anaheim defenseman Ian Moore left at 7:47 of the third period after taking a hit from Philadelphia forward Garnet Hathaway.

NOTES: Flyers forward Matvei Michkov did not play after getting hit in the foot with the puck in a 5-2 win at the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Grebenkin took his spot on the third line after being scratched against the Oilers. ... The Flyers are 7-for-54 (13.0 percent) on the power play in their past 17 games. ... Anaheim goalie Ville Husso backed up Dostal after he was recalled from San Diego of the American Hockey League earlier Tuesday. Petr Mrazek was injured in a 7-4 loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday.