John Tortorella’s Philadelphia Flyers (1-5-1) return to action Saturday afternoon to host John Hynes’ Minnesota Wild (5-0-2). Game time at Wells Fargo Center is 1:00 PM EST.
The match will be broadcast on NBCSP. Radio broadcast on 97.5 The Fanatic with an online simulcast on Flyers Radio 24/7.
This is the first of two meetings this season between the Flyers and Wild. The two teams will return for a rematch in St. Paul on December 14.
The Flyers enter this game looking to snap a six-game winless streak (0-5-1). On Wednesday, the Flyers lost on the road to the Washington Capitals, 6-3. The Wild, undefeated in regulation, are coming off a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Here are five things to watch on Saturday morning:
1. Get traffic to the network
The Flyers dug themselves a 4-0 hole against Washington on Wednesday. Philly then scored three goals to pull within 4-3 before a pair of empty-net goals for the Caps sealed the final 6-3 run.
For the Flyers, it’s important to build on the positive parts of Wednesday’s game. Yes, the Caps got away with a big lead and almost paid the price. But the Flyers did a good job of forcing the problem back into the game.
First and foremost, the Flyers are finally starting to get pucks and bodies on net regularly. Compare three plays to see the difference.
In the first period, on their first power play, Flyers center Morgan Frost sent a wrist shot from the center point into the net. With no one marking the goalkeeper or available to tip the ball over, it became easy to block.
In the second half, Owen Tippett’s low-percentage point shot found the back of the net. Why? Sean Couturier “kicked the goalie’s eyes” with an effective screen.
In the third period, Matvey Meshkov made a powerful wrist play from near the point where Frost hit a first-period goal. Why? First of all, it was a deceptive version by Myshkov. But that wouldn’t have been a goal, in all likelihood, if not for another screen provided by Flyers captain Couturier.
2. Set a positive tone early
The Flyers remain a bit of a shaky team right now in the wake of their current stretch of four straight regulation losses. There were some potential key elements in the latter half of Wednesday’s game.
For the Flyers, a strong first period against the Wild is a must: Go to the break leading or even. Then take the next step in the last 40 minutes. Keep things simple but consistent.
3. Don’t over-rely on special teams
It’s no secret that the Flyers have struggled with their five-on-five play to find balance in the first seven games of the season.
Defensively, the structure had parts of games where the Flyers appeared to be on track, but subsequent collapses or declines in execution or discipline were fatal during the winless streak. Offensively, finding cohesion and possession as five-man units is still a work in progress.
The Flyers’ five-on-five woes masked two positives: Both their penalty kill (26-for-29, 89.7 percent) and power play (7-for-29, 24.1 percent) were good enough to win the team’s games. The team if playing between five and five is average so far.
4. Next man up mentality
Cam York was beaten near the end of Wednesday’s game at Washington. He did not train on Friday and his availability this weekend remains uncertain. The pilots switched between defense pairs during training, trying out a few different combinations.
Travis Konecny also did not practice Friday. Officially, it is day by day. Bobby Brink, who was scratched last game, took Konecny’s place in Friday’s practice.
Regardless of who is available or unavailable against the Wild, Minnesota will have no sympathy. The Flyers should be ready to compete against a team that has been playing solid hockey to open this season.
5. Between the pipes: Ersson vs. Gustafsson
Citizens Samuel Erson and Philip Gustafson know each other well. They shared Team Sweden’s net at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and played against each other in the American Hockey League.
Ersson has played better so far this season than his stats suggest (1-2-1, 3.22 GAA, .886 SV%). Meanwhile, Gustafsson won his third NHL Star of the Week last week and is off to a very hot start (4-0-1, 1.40 GAA, .952 SV%).
