The Flyers enter their second game of the preseason with an improved but still undermanned roster.
In their first back-to-back, technically, of a long season, the Philadelphia Flyers ship up north to face the Boston Bruins at TD Garden at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night. For the bubble players, this is an important opportunity to make a bigger, better impression after a dismal first game against Washington on Monday.
In net, Dan Vladar and Aleksei Kolosov are expected to share the crease after Joseph Woll and Carson Bjarnason did the same against the Capitals in Hershey on Monday night.
A number of Flyers who played on Monday night are going back-to-back ahead of their roster spot push, including David Jiricek, Cole Knuble, Jett Luchanko, Alex Bump, Ty Murchison, and Oliver Bonk.
Four young defensemen of the six will have another opportunity to prove themselves, as nobody especially stood out on Monday night. Jiricek and Bonk, in particular, are jockeying for the same roster spot, and each made a glaring defensive error leading to a Capitals goal in the previous game.
They'll need to find a way to stand out and separate themselves against a loaded Bruins roster.
Flyers Game Roster
Alex Bump - Jett Luchanko - Cole Knuble
Carl Grundstrom - Noah Cates - Owen Tippett
Nolan Foote - Jacob Gaucher - Danila Klimovich
Zach Aston-Reese - Matthew Gard - Jack Studnicka
Nick Seeler - David Jiricek
Hunter McDonald - Oliver Bonk
Ty Murchison - Spencer Gill
Dan Vladar (S), Aleksei Kolosov
Bruins Game Roster
J.J. Peterka - Pavel Zacha - Casey Mittelstadt
David Pastrnak - Elias Lindholm - Morgan Geekie
Mikey Eyssimont - Dans Locmelis - Tanner Jeannot
Ivan Ivan - Brendan Gaunce - Brian Halonen
Hampus Lindholm - Will Borgen
Nikita Zadorov - Connor Clifton
Frederic Brunet - Maxence Guenette
Jeremy Swayman (S), Simon Zajicek
The Flyers are in for another preseason mismatch with the Bruins dressing the majority of their top-six forwards and top-four defensemen, as well as No. 1 goalie Jeremy Swayman.
Former Flyers trade acquisition Maxence Guenette is set to feature for Boston, too, as well as some tough customers like Tanner Jeannot and Nikita Zadorov. After drawing a five-minute major penalty on Monday night, Hunter McDonald could again use his physicality to the Flyers' advantage.
Player to watch
For me, tonight's Flyers player to watch is prospect Cole Knuble, who could seriously push for a roster spot with continued strong play, especially in the wake of Denver Barkey's lower-body injury.
Knuble's skating has improved tremendously since he was drafted, and his work ethic and playmaking chops make him an ideal Bobby Brink replacement in theory.
The Flyers have no shortage of wingers, but as Rick Tocchet and Danny Briere will say, players have to earn their spots and push someone else out of a job.
Early in his pro career, Knuble is doing that, and he'll get another important look against Boston. Tuesday night's game will be carried on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
