The Philadelphia Flyers players and head coach Rick Tocchet have said multiple times that this team is past moral victories. They’ll take the lessons from their losses, and that’s that. However, Wednesday might need to be an exception.

The Flyers went toe-to-toe with one of, if not the best teams in hockey, the Edmonton Oilers. If there was no scoreboard, watching that game, you’d think the Flyers had won that game. They did not, falling 3-2 in overtime. But there was a lot to like about this game. It was a loss that looked like a win.

The Flyers were dominant in the shot battle on Wednesday. Through 40 minutes, Philly had outshot Edmonton 28-13. The third period saw the Oilers sneak back in with a stronger fight, outshooting the Flyers 9-4, but Philly still held the 32-22 shot lead at the end of regulation.

Philly also went 28/47 at the dot, which is an impressive mark for the Flyers this season.

The Flyers were physical, strong along the boards, and won puck battles. Playing against a team that employs Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, it can be tough on any defense. The Flyers had been struggling as of late, but they did a really good job keeping their structure and shutting them down, especially at 5-on-5.

Again, all of that sounds like the foundation of a really good win for the Flyers. That sort of effort against almost any other team in the league likely does result in the win. But this is the Oilers. So, what was the difference between a win and a loss?

First of all, Tristan Jarry stood on his head on Wednesday. A 30-save night really made the difference for his team. The Flyers had 17 high-danger chances, per Natural Stat Trick. Jarry really was a difference-maker for the Oilers tonight, which is nothing new. Jarry has been incredible recently.

Zach Hyman had a really good second period for the Oilers as well. Two goals from him in a little less than 10 minutes gave the Oilers what they needed for the game to go to overtime. However, the first goal was the product of a very fortunate bounce that gave Hyman the easy back-door goal. The second came on the power play.

Once the game got to overtime, you knew how it would end, especially when the Oilers put Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard out there with all of that open space. The trio is simply unfair.

Again, the Flyers are beyond moral victories right now. But playing a team like the Oilers that well is something that they should hold their heads high over. It was a hell of a game for the Flyers, maybe even their best of the season.