The Flyers needed a hero in Game 6. Unsung defenseman Cam York obliged in OT
York, who hadn't scored since January and is just a year removed from being in John Tortorella's doghouse, scored the biggest Flyers goal in 16 years.
The Flyers needed a hero. Dan Vladař could only do so much in net, and as the minutes in overtime continued to tick away without a goal, a growing sense of dread fell upon Xfinity Mobile Arena that the series could be headed back to Pittsburgh for Game 7.
Enter Cam York.
Noah Cates won a rare offensive zone faceoff cleanly in the final three minutes of overtime and flipped the puck back to York, who passed it back and forth with Matvei Michkov before ripping a wrister from the right point through traffic and into the back of the net.
» READ MORE: Cam York’s OT winner eliminates the Penguins, as Flyers advance to second round for first time since 2020
1-0. Game over. Series clinched. York hurled his stick 13 rows up into section 113 in celebration.
“I hope everyone’s OK,” York said. “Definitely don’t want a lawsuit. But, just honestly, blacked out. I didn’t even know what to do. I was so excited, just so happy for my teammates and obviously the fans.”
York might’ve learned a thing or two about the stick toss from teammate Trevor Zegras or his other former United States National Team Development Program teammates Cole Caufield and Jack Hughes.
But his emphatic celebration is a testament to the work the 25-year-old York has put in over the last year to elevate his game and get back to the player he’s capable of being after a rough 2024-25. It also validated the Flyers’ faith in handing York a five-year, 25.75 million contract extension last July.
“His game should get a lot more credit than it does,” Jamie Drysdale, his defensive partner, said. “... I’m just jumping the entire length of the ice trying to chase him down because I wanted to be the first one to give him a big hug.”
The overtime winner was York’s first career playoff goal, and his first goal since Jan. 21. He had four goals in 74 games this season.
» READ MORE: Flyers exceed expectations with thrilling first-round series win over the Penguins in overtime
Last season, York clashed with coach John Tortorella, leading to several scratches and ultimately a confrontation during a March game that contributed to Tortorella’s firing. Coach Rick Tocchet said that York came into the 2025-26 season with a chip on his shoulder, and he’s become a player who lugs heavy minutes and can play in all situations.
“One thing I love — when he goes for breakouts, and teams are pressing, he’ll take a hit to make a play," Tocchet said. “He’s not the smallest guy, he’s not the biggest guy, but he absorbs those checks and he can make a play off it. That takes a lot of courage. Cam York all year has had a lot of courage.”
York took a shot to the ribs earlier in the series, missing a skate to recover, but there was never a doubt in his mind that he’d continue to play. He averaged 22 minutes, 52 seconds for the series, and played 28:34 in Game 6 before firing home the overtime winner.
“I know [York’s] skill set and what he’s capable of,” Travis Sanheim said. “You saw it on display there. That’s what we need from him. He and Jamie played great, do a good job of facilitating the puck, and yet they’ve been really good defensively as well.”
Tocchet credited the closeness in the Flyers’ locker room with aiding their success this year. York and Drysdale are a prime example of that, as they are especially close friends off the ice, which York said helped them develop strong chemistry as a pairing.
There might not be anyone in the building who was more excited to see York have his moment than Drysdale.
“Yorkie was due,” Drysdale said. “He’s been playing unreal all series. His time to shine, and boy, did he ever shine.”
