After a gritty overtime victory against the Ottawa Senators, the Philadelphia Flyers return to the Wells Fargo Center for the start of a five-game homestead, hoping to ride their momentum into a third straight win.
After a gritty overtime victory against the Ottawa Senators, the Philadelphia Flyers return to the Wells Fargo Center for the start of a five-game homestead, hoping to ride their momentum into a third straight win.
Tonight, they face the Buffalo Sabres, a team known for its dynamic young talent and offensive firepower. The Flyers, meanwhile, are proving that they can not just stay competitive, but win games in challenging circumstances—making them exponentially more dangerous for the teams they face going forward.
Ivan Fedotov Stays In Net
Ivan Fedotov gets the nod in net once more, and for good reason. In addition to cover for Sam Ersson being day-to-day with a lower-body injury, the Flyers' Russian netminder has been a steadying presence for the Flyers. After being a huge reason the team was able to stay in the game against the Senators—where he faced a barrage of shots and still came out on top—Fedotov will look to continue his upward trajectory.
The Sabres present a unique challenge with their high-octane offense led by stars like Rasmus Dahlin and Dylan Cozens (although they will notably be without Tage Thompson for tonight's game). For Fedotov, staying sharp against Buffalo's speed and creativity will be crucial. If he can keep the Flyers in the game early, they'll have a solid chance to build up some goal insurance and maintain their winning streak.
A Milestone Night For Erik Johnson
Tonight marks Erik Johnson's 1,000th career NHL game—a monumental achievement for the veteran defenseman. Johnson has been an unmeasurably positive influence on the Flyers' group since arriving in Philadelphia, providing leadership and stability to a group finding their rhythm.
Johnson's experience and poise has been invaluable for the younger defensemen like Cam York and Emil Andrae, and his team will undoubtedly be rallying around him on this special night, while the home crowd shows their appreciation for a player who has quietly been a key contributor in his time as a Flyer.
Building Momentum On Home Ice
The Flyers have a golden opportunity to create some stability and momentum during this homestead. After grinding out wins against San Jose and Ottawa, they'll now benefit from the comforts of staying home as they look to string together more consistent performances.
While their victory over the Senators wasn't their cleanest game, it showcased the team's solidifying identity—a group that refuses to quit and finds ways to win no matter how stacked the game looks to be against them. Players like Travis Konecny, Anthony Richard, and Matvei Michkov have been leading the charge offensively, while Fedotov and the defense have held firm under pressure.
Philadelphia Flyers winger Anthony Richard (90) takes a shot during practice at the Flyers Training Center.Tonight's game against Buffalo will be a significant test of whether the Flyers can translate their resilience into sustained success. A win tonight would go a long way in cementing their confidence and positioning them as a team to watch as they claw their way up the NHL rankings.
Projected Lines
Philadelphia Flyers
Forwards:
Owen Tippett - Sean Couturier - Travis Konecny
Joel Farabee - Scott Laughton - Bobby Brink
Anthony Richard - Ryan Poehling - Matvei Michkov
Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Garnet Hathaway
Defense:
Emil Andrae - Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler - Rasmus Ristolainen
Egor Zamula - Erik Johnson
Starting Goalie:
Ivan Fedotov
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards:
Zach Benson - Ryan McLeod - Alex Tuch
JJ Peterka - Dylan Cozens - Jack Quinn
Jiri Kulich - Peyton Krebs - Jason Zucker
Beck Malenstyn - Sam Lafferty - Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Defense:
Rasmus Dahlin - Bowen Byram
Owen Power - Jacob Bryson
Dennis Gilbert - Connor Clifton
Starting Goalie:
Devon Levi