Gameday 8 Preview: Flyers vs. Wild
The Philadelphia Flyers are set to host the Minnesota Wild at the Wells Fargo Center, eager to break out of a six-game losing streak.
Nick Wosika-Imagn Images - Gameday 8 Preview: Flyers vs. WildThe Philadelphia Flyers are set to host the Minnesota Wild at the Wells Fargo Center, eager to break out of a six-game losing streak.
Though struggling in the standings, the Flyers showed signs of life in their recent loss to the Washington Capitals, battling back with renewed energy.
Despite potentially being without key players Cam York and Travis Konecny due to injuries, the Flyers will be hoping for a spark from their young roster to bring an end to the skid.
Maintaining Renewed Energy
Against Washington, the Flyers showed a fire that had been missing in prior games, fighting back from a four-goal deficit and showing resilience until the final buzzer.
Though the 6-3 score didn’t fall in their favor, it highlighted their potential to battle back. Tonight, the Flyers will need to channel that same energy against a Wild team known for its physicality and speed.
Players like Matvei Michkov, Owen Tippett, and Tyson Foerster will need to continue taking risks to generate offense and build on the chemistry they’ve started to develop.
Next Man Up
Both Cam York and Travis Konecny’s potential absences leave sizable holes on the Flyers’ blue line and offense.
York’s puck-moving abilities and power play presence have been crucial, especially given the Flyers’ struggles in generating consistent offense. In his absence, defensemen like Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale will be tasked with elevating their play and stabilizing the back end.
Up front, Konecny's absence would put pressure on the forwards to step up. Tippett, who scored against the Capitals after a tough scoring drought, will be a player to watch as he looks to find the net consistently.
On Ersson’s Shoulders
Sam Ersson will get the start in goal tonight, and the timing couldn’t be better for the Flyers to lean on him as they seek stability.
Ersson has continued to his capabilities as the No. 1 goaltender, and he’ll need to be sharp against Minnesota’s balanced offensive attack.
With the Flyers’ defense facing potential adjustments, Ersson’s composure will be essential. A strong showing from him could not only provide the team with a much-needed boost but also solidify his status as a dependable starting option for Philadelphia moving forward.
Projected Lines
Philadelphia Flyers
Forwards:
Travis Konecny - Sean Couturier - Matvei Michkov
Owen Tippett - Morgan Frost - Garnet Hathaway
Scott Laughton - Ryan Poehling - Tyson Foerster
Nicolas Deslauriers - Noah Cates - Joel Farabee
Defense:
Cam York - Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler - Jamie Drysdale
Egor Zamula - Rasmus Ristolainen
Starting Goalie:
Samuel Ersson
Minnesota Wild
Forwards:
Kirill Kaprizov - Marco Rossi - Mats Zuccarello
Marcus Johansson - Joel Eriksson Ek - Matt Boldy
Marcus Foligno - Marat Khusnutdinov - Yakov Trenin
Jakub Lauko - Frederick Gaudreau - Liam Ohgren
Defense:
Jacob Middleton - Brock Faber
Jonas Brodin - Zach Bogosian
Jon Merrill - Declan Chisholm
Starting Goalie:
Filip Gustavsson
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