The Philadelphia Flyers are right on the edge. You can feel it.
They've been playing better lately with each passing game, but the results just haven't quite come together. It's that frustrating kind of hockey where they're doing a lot of things right—controlling play, getting chances—but just not cashing in enough to tilt the scoreboard in their favor.
Tonight, as they continue their homestand against the Tampa Bay Lightning, they'll be looking to finally break through.
There's no easy fix, but there's plenty to be encouraged by. The process is there. Now, they just need the payoff.
1. Sam Ersson Is Back in Net
Goaltending has been a key storyline for the Flyers all season, and tonight, Sam Ersson will once again take the crease. He's had some ups and downs, but through it all, he's shown resilience—something that's been a hallmark of this Flyers team as a whole.
Ersson's last stretch of starts has been a mixed bag. He's had games where he's looked like the composed, technically sound netminder who was a big part of keeping the Flyers in the playoff race last season, and then there have been nights where a leaky goal or an untimely breakdown has shifted momentum in the wrong direction. That's part of the learning curve for a young goalie taking on a full NHL workload, but the team has confidence in him, and for good reason.
Against a team like the Lightning—who boast plenty of firepower—Ersson will need to be sharp early. The Bolts are a team that thrives in quick-strike offense, and if they sense a goalie isn't locked in, they'll pounce. If Ersson can settle in and give the Flyers some stability between the pipes, it'll go a long way in giving them a chance to get the result they're looking for.
2. Rasmus Ristolainen "Banged Up"; Won't Be in Lineup
The Flyers will be without Rasmus Ristolainen tonight, as he's dealing with some nagging bumps and bruises ("banged up," as John Tortorella said). While his contributions occur more on the defensive side than the offensive side, his physical presence and ability to clear the crease are things the Flyers will need to replace.
That means there will be some shifting on the blue line. Emil Andrae, who is known for his creativity and offensive prowess, will get another look in this game as adjusts back to NHL play after a seriously impressive stint earlier this season.
Egor Zamula will draw back into the lineup after being healthy scratched on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators.
While the defense has also been on a positive trajectory—particularly the pairing of Nick Seeler and Jamie Drysdale—being without Ristolainen's physicality will make it interesting to see how the Flyers match up against a Lightning team that, for all its offensive talent, isn't afraid to play with a bit of bite.
While the defense has been generally solid, without Ristolainen, there is a different feel to the group. His game isn't always pretty, but there's value in having a big, physical defenseman who makes life difficult for opposing forwards in front of the net. Tonight, the Flyers will need to make sure they don't lose that edge in the Finn's absence.
3. Could We See Some Line Shakeups to Get Guys Going?
At this point, it wouldn't be a surprise if John Tortorella plays around with the lines a bit tonight. The Flyers have been doing a lot of the right things—driving play, getting chances, winning battles—but they just haven't been able to turn all that effort into goals in the way they need to. Sometimes, a little tweak here and there can make all the difference.
Guys like Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny have been generating chances but aren't quite finishing at the rate they'd like. Konecny, in particular, has had quite a few near misses lately—which has left a "big hole" in the Flyers' offense, per Tortorella, who highlighted how essential Konecny's production is to the team as a whole.
Matvei Michkov has been a bit streaky in his production as well, but has not lacked energy or ambition on the ice, so pairing him with a different look might help shake something loose offensively to get him collecting points on a more consistent basis.
One of the Flyers' biggest strengths this season has been their depth. They've learned to rely on just one or two guys to carry the offense—it's largely been a team effort. But when pucks just aren't going in, sometimes a fresh combination can give a much-needed jolt. Keep an eye out for any adjustments as the game goes on.
Final Thoughts
The Flyers are due for a breakthrough. They've been playing the kind of hockey that should lead to wins (or, at least, closer games), but hockey can be cruel like that—sometimes, the process doesn't immediately result in points. But if they keep at it, if they keep doing what they've been doing, eventually, it'll break their way.
Tonight is another chance to make it happen. They'll need a strong showing from Ersson, a steady performance from their blue line in Ristolainen's absence, and a bit more of a spark up front to get the offensive payoff they've been chipping away at.
They're right on the edge. Now it's time to push through.
Projected Lines
Philadelphia Flyers
Forwards:
Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Travis Konecny
Owen Tippett - Sean Couturier - Matvei Michkov
Olle Lycksell - Ryan Poehling - Bobby Brink
Nicolas Deslauriers - Rodrigo Abols - Jakob Pelletier
Defense:
Cam York - Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler - Jamie Drysdale
Emil Andrae - Egor Zamula
Goalies:
Samuel Ersson
Ivan Fedotov
Tampa Bay Lightning
Forwards:
Jake Guentzel - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Nick Paul
Gage Goncalves - Yanni Gourde - Olvier Bjorkstrand
Zemgus Girgensons - Luke Glendening - Darren Raddysh
Defense:
Victor Hedman - J.J. Moser
Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak
Emil Lilleberg - Nick Perbix
Goalies:
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Jonas Johansson
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