The Flyers can only improve after their disastrous performance in Newark.
The Philadelphia Flyers' preseason opener didn't quite go as planned. The New Jersey Devils dominated the Flyers from start to finish Monday night, handing them an ugly 6-0 stomping in Newark. The Flyers allowed four goals in the game's first six minutes and never managed to recover.
Wednesday night offers the Flyers a chance to rebound when they take on the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. The Islanders also lost their preseason opener, falling to the New York Rangers by a score of 4-2.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere, who was behind the bench Monday night, hinted the team may have been fatigued after a blistering start to John Tortorella's notoriously challenging training camp. The Flyers had an off day Tuesday, so perhaps the squad will look more energized in New York.
Veteran forward Sean Couturier, who made his long-awaited return to the lineup on Monday, is not expected to be in the lineup against the Islanders. Forward Cam Atkinson, who also missed the entire 2022-23 campaign due to injury, also will not suit up. Atkinson was expected to play in Monday night's tilt, but was held out due to lower-body soreness.
Here's everything to know about the Flyers' second preseason game.
How to watch
When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: UBS Arena,
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
TV: Not televised
Roster
Forwards: Wade Allison, Garnet Hathaway, Cooper Marody, Scott Laughton, Ryan Poehling, Noah Cates, Nicolas Deslauriers, Rhett Gardner, Samu Tuomaala, Tanner Laczynski, Zayde Wisdom, Brendan Furry
Defensemen: Adam Karashik, Ronnie Attard, Emil Andrae, Louie Belpedio, Adam Ginning, Victor Mete
Goalies: Felix Sandstrom, Sam Ersson
*Hat tip: Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia
What to watch for
1. Goaltender Sam Ersson will make his first appearance of the preseason. He is expected to man the crease in the second and third period after Felix Sandstrom plays the game's first 20 minutes. The 23-year-old netminder is one of the odds-on favorites to earn the full-time backup goalie job behind Carter Hart to start the campaign. Sandstrom and newcomer Cal Petersen are also in the running to serve as the club's No. 2 backstop.
2. Defenseman Cam York will not play against the Islanders. According to Laperriere, his injury is "nothing major."
3. Speaking of defensemen, a pair of young blueliners gunning for roster spots — Emil Andrae and Ronnie Attard — will be in the lineup. Andrae played in the preseason opener, but lacked consistency against a Devils lineup full of grizzled NHL veterans. Attard, meanwhile, will make his preseason debut against the Islanders. The 24-year-old blueliner is competing for an increased role with the Flyers, and even if he's not completely ready for full-time NHL minutes, he's still a compelling name to watch as the preseason unfolds.