Trevor Zegras Haunts Old Team as Reeling Ducks Lose to Flyers
Key Points
- Trevor Zegras scored twice against his former Anaheim Ducks team in a 5-2 Philadelphia Flyers victory on January 6, 2026 [2].
- Flyers forward Travis York recorded a goal and an assist, contributing to the win [2].
- Anaheim Ducks suffered their seventh straight loss, marking a continued skid [5].
- Zegras’ first goal came early, followed by a power-play tally at 14:23 of the first period [2].
- Cutter Gauthier scored for the Ducks against his former team as well [4].
- Zegras expressed excitement post-game, calling the boos ‘great’ but cheers ‘better’ [2].
- The game took place at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia [12].
**INVERTED PYRAMID OF TRIANGLE**
The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on January 6, 2026, powered by two goals from Trevor Zegras against his former club [2][12]. Zegras, traded to Philadelphia in the offseason, delivered a standout performance in his first matchup versus Anaheim since the deal [7]. The Ducks, now on a seven-game losing streak, struggled throughout the contest [5].
Who Was Trevor Zegras’ Performance Against the Ducks?
As reported by NHL.com staff, Trevor Zegras scored his first goal early and added a second at 14:23 on the power play to give Philadelphia a 2-1 lead [2]. Zegras converted a no-look pass from Travis York at the right face-off dot with a sharp-angled wrist shot [2]. “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 stated [2]. “The boos were great but the cheers were even better.” [2].
Post-game, as covered by thescore.com, Zegras admitted it felt “f—ing amazing” to score twice and beat his old team [7]. This marked the first encounter since Anaheim traded Zegras to the Flyers last summer for Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick [10].
What Led to the Flyers’ Early Dominance?
Travis York extended the Flyers’ lead to 3-1 at 1:15 of the second period with a long-range forehand shot after collecting a pass at the point [2][6]. As detailed in NHL.com’s Ducks recap, York faked a shot before assisting Zegras earlier [6]. Philadelphia added two more goals to secure the 5-2 final [12].
The Flyers outscored Anaheim 2-1 in the first, 2-0 in the second, and 1-1 in the third, per ESPN box score summaries [11][12]. Emil Andrae and others contributed hits and plays, maintaining momentum [8].
How Did Ducks Respond in Key Moments?
Anaheim struck first with a power-play goal from Alex Killorn at 1:25, assisted by Troy Terry and Jackson LaCombe [8]. Cutter Gauthier, another former Flyer facing his old team, added a goal for the Ducks [4]. Beckett Sennecke drew a hooking penalty, but Anaheim’s bench took a too-many-men infraction [8].
Why Are the Ducks on a Losing Streak?
As noted by The Sporting Tribune, the Ducks lost their seventh straight game, dropping to 21-19-3 overall and struggling away at 9-11-2 [5][12]. Goals from Killorn and Gauthier were not enough against Philadelphia’s offence . Jackson LaCombe assisted and hit, while Pavel Mintyukov blocked shots, but defence faltered [8].
NHL.com highlighted Anaheim’s ongoing woes after the defeat [2]. The team faces continued pressure amid rebuild efforts under GM Pat Verbeek, who orchestrated the Zegras trade [13].
What Did Zegras Say About Facing Anaheim?
Zegras relished the atmosphere, per NHL.com: “I was fired up to play in this one” [2]. His performance echoed past games, though this time he haunted rather than helped the Ducks [9]. Trading him stemmed from lineup fit issues and contract tensions, as Verbeek decided [10].
In ESPN coverage, Zegras reflected on prior Ducks struggles with injuries and rumours that caused anxiety [10]. Now thriving in Philadelphia, he showcased the ‘magic’ goalie Lukas Dostal once praised [10].
Who Else Contributed Key Plays?
Travis York tallied a goal and assist for the Flyers [2]. Christian Dvorak notched shots, Sean Couturier drew penalties, and Rasmus Ristolainen and Owen Tippett generated offence [8]. For Anaheim, Troy Terry assisted, and Chris Kreider took shots [8].
- ANA 1:25 (PP): Alex Killorn (Troy Terry, Jackson LaCombe) [8].
- PHI 10:22: Trevor Zegras (Christian Dvorak) .
- PHI 14:23 PP: Trevor Zegras (Travis York) [2].
When and Where Did the Game Occur?
The matchup unfolded on January 6, 2026, at Wells Fargo Center (noted as Xfinity Mobile Arena in one recap, likely Philadelphia venue) [2][6][12]. Faceoffs, offsides, and icings punctuated play, with Philadelphia winning key draws [8].
How Has Zegras Fared Since the Trade?
Since the June 2025 trade, Zegras reset in Philly after Ducks decline from 0.77 to 0.53 points-per-game [10]. Verbeek cited lineup mismatches [10]. YouTube highlights captured his two first-period strikes [15].
Big Rapids News and 97.3 ESPN confirmed Zegras’ two goals in the 5-2 win over Gauthier and Ducks [4][19]. Flyers improved to 15-6-3 with strong goaltending (2.39 GAA, .910 SV%) [17].
What Are Implications for Both Teams?
Anaheim’s skid raises questions on rebuild pace [13]. Philadelphia gains momentum, with Zegras fitting seamlessly [10]. No further injuries or trades noted immediately post-game [2].
Additional coverage from CBS Sports, Hockeydb, and YouTube recaps aligned on scoring and stats [8][18][20]. This loss compounds Ducks’ challenges versus a rising Flyers squad.