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Zegras and Drysdale return as Ducks host Flyers

March 17, 2026

There was a theme of give-and-take on the Ducks’ road trip and that’ll remain the case as they welcome one-time leading scorer Trevor Zegras, former lottery pick Jamie Drysdale and their current club, the Philadelphia Flyers, on Wednesday.

The Ducks not only split their four-game Canadian swing down the middle (2-2-0), but they got a healthy Troy Terry and the franchise debut of John Carlson on the same evening that Mason McTavish was a healthy scratch and captain Radko Gudas served the second game of his five-match suspension for kneeing Toronto captain Auston Matthews.

The Ducks dealt the uncommonly creative Zegras to Philly in June – the return package netted them glue guy Ryan Poehling, then later prospect Eric Nilson and gritty winger Jeffrey Viel – and they had already moved his bosom buddy Drysdale to Philly 18 months earlier for Cutter Gauthier.

This year, Zegras is four points behind Travis Konecy on the Flyers’ leaderboard, though overall Philly has ranked last in power-play efficiency and scored the seventh-fewest goals per game in the NHL amid drama surrounding its usage of winger Matvei Michkov.

Meanwhile, Gauthier, who refused to sign his entry-level contract with the Flyers, tops the Ducks in both points and goals, including a late game-winner in Montreal on Sunday, to build on a strong finish to last year.

The player who’s been unable to do the same is McTavish, whose anointment at the No. 2 center contributed to his close friend Zegras’ departure.

McTavish hadn’t recorded a point in five appearances. He is riding a 12-game goalless drought that dates to Jan. 19 thanks to the Olympic break and a pre-pause injury to McTavish. His three points in his past 13 games were swiftly equaled by Terry in his return from a nine-game absence.

“Sometimes you’ve got to make hard decisions, and sometimes change might be healthy for the player, individually. You try different things along the way to give them an opportunity to go,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville told The Athletic’s Eric Stephens. “‘Hey, let’s fight our way back into the lineup and push to get in there and be back to where you’re expected to be.’ That’s what we’re looking for.”

On the back end, Carlson played just under 23 minutes in his Ducks debut and posted a +1 rating. His arrival from the Washington Capitals via trade the night before the trade deadline was widely lauded despite the overall market seeing high prices, low availability and few solid values.

Carlson spent his entire career in D.C., meaning he saw plenty of the Flyers in the Metropolitan Division. His 36 points against Philly represent his third-highest total against any organization, having been more prolific against only the Carolina Hurricanes (45 points) and New Jersey Devils (50 points).

Philadelphia at Ducks

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Honda Center

How to watch: Victory+, KCOP (Ch. 13)

Orange County Register

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Zegras and Drysdale return as Ducks host Flyers

Philadelphia at Ducks

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