Yahoo Sports Gameday 45 Preview: Flyers vs. Islanders
The Philadelphia Flyers head to Long Island tonight to take on the New York Islanders, aiming to build on their recent strong performances.
Taking points against the Anaheim Ducks, Florida Panthers, and Columbus Blue Jackets have kept their momentum going over the past few games, and with some lineup changes and time to rest after their most recent back-to-back, the Flyers will be looking for two more points on this road trip.
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Sam Ersson Returns to Net
Sam Ersson has looked promising since coming back from a lower-body injury knock on New Year's Eve, and he’ll get the start tonight against a defensively-minded Islanders team. Ersson’s ability to remain composed under pressure has been a crucial factor for the Flyers in tight games, and they’ll rely on him to anchor their defensive efforts again tonight.
Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News
The Islanders, known for their structured play and opportunistic scoring, will test Ersson’s ability to track the puck through traffic and stay sharp during stretches when the Flyers control possession. The key for Ersson will be limiting rebounds and maintaining his confidence, especially if the game takes on a grinding, low-scoring tone.
Ersson’s performance could also be pivotal in providing the Flyers’ defense with the confidence to jump into the play and contribute offensively, something that has been a hallmark of their recent success.
Joel Farabee Rejoins the Lineup
After being scratched for the last three games, Joel Farabee is back in action tonight, taking the place of Olle Lycksell in the lineup. Farabee’s return adds skill, creativity, and versatility to the Flyers’ forward corps, and it will be interesting to see how he responds after watching from the press box.
Farabee has generated some fantastic offense this season, but has run into some tough puck luck that prevented him from putting numbers on the boars. However, this could be an opportunity for him to reset and make an impact. The Flyers have been firing on all cylinders offensively, with contributions from up and down the lineup. If Farabee can find his rhythm quickly, he could add another layer to their attack and help sustain the team’s recent offensive surge.
Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News
Head coach John Tortorella will undoubtedly be watching closely to see if Farabee brings the energy and attention to detail that he demands from all his players. A strong performance tonight could go a long way toward solidifying Farabee’s spot in the lineup moving forward.
“He wants to be here. He’s a name that’s been bounced around for the [trade] deadline. I’m not gonna give up on him.”
—John Tortorella on Farabee’s importance to this #LetsGoFlyers team— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) January 11, 2025
Flyers' Momentum Faces a Tough Test
The Flyers are riding high after impressive showings against the Ducks, Panthers, and Blue Jackets. Their offense has been clicking, their defense has tightened up, and they’ve displayed a level of consistency that bodes well for their ability to compete with playoff-caliber teams.
That momentum will face a stiff test tonight against the Islanders, a team that thrives on suffocating defense and capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes. The Flyers’ ability to stay disciplined and avoid turnovers will be critical, especially against a team that loves to turn defense into offense.
On the flip side, the Islanders have struggled at times to generate consistent scoring, which presents an opportunity for the Flyers to dictate the pace of the game. If the defense can stay sharp and Ersson holds strong in net, the Flyers’ consistent offensive production could be the difference.
Projected Lines
Philadelphia Flyers
Forwards:
Owen Tippett - Morgan Frost - Travis Konecny
Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink
Joel Farabee - Sean Couturier - Matvei Michkov
Scott Laughton - Ryan Poehling - Garnet Hathaway
Defense:
Cam York - Travis Sanheim
Egor Zamula - Rasmus Ristolainen
Nick Seeler - Jamie Drysdale
Starting Goalie:
Sam Ersson
New York Islanders
Forwards:
Anders Lee - Brock Nelson - Mathew Barzal
Maxim Tsyplakov - Bo Horvat - Kyle Palmieri
Anthony Duclair - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Casey Cizikas
Matt Martin - Kyle MacLean - Pierre Engvall
Defense:
Adam Pelech - Ryan Pulock
Isaiah George - Noah Dobson
Dennis Cholowski - Scott Mayfield
Starting Goalie:
Ilya Sorokin
Related: Joel Farabee On Leadership, Flyers Fans & Bringing Playoffs Back To Philly
Related: Why The Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates & Bobby Brink Line Is Thriving For The Flyers
Related: John Tortorella Explains Reasoning Behind Constant Line Shifts
