Playing the final game of a six-game preseason schedule, the Philadelphia Flyers (1-4-0) will host the New York Islanders (1-2-0) at the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday evening. Game time is 7:00 pm EDT.
The game will be televised on NBCSP+. The radio broadcast is on 97.5 The Fanatic with an online simulcast on Flyers Radio 24/7.
On Sunday evening at UBS Arena, the Islanders overcame a second period deficit to score twice and down the Flyers by a 2-1 score. Tony DeAngelo scored a 5-on-3 power play goal, assisted by Morgan Frost and Tyson Foerster. The Islanders answered with a Kyle Palmieri power play goal, followed by a seeing-eye goal by defenseman Scott Mayfield on a broken play. Goaltending prospect Samuel Ersson went the distance in net for the Flyers, looking sharp in a losing cause.
Here are five storylines to track in the Flyers’ preseason finale:
1. Both sides of the coin
Much has been made, rightfully, about the fact that the Flyers have scored a mere five goals through five preseason games, two of which came during 5-on-3 power plays. The team has generated just 21, 21, 21, and 25 shots on goal in the last four games. Considering the fact that the Flyers ranked next-to-last in the NHL last season in goals per game and dead last on the power play, the inability to create high-grade chances (much less goals) is only to fuel skepticism about the offense. As the start of the regular season approaches.
To be fair, the Flyers have been missing a slew of upper-lineup regulars in the preseason. Travis Conency and Ivan Provorov have only played in one game, Cam Atkinson (upper body) hasn’t played in any of the first five exhibition games. Joel Farabee (offseason neck surgery) has not yet been cleared to play but is on target for an early season return. Sean Couturier remains week-to-week with a back issue.
However, until a time comes that the team proves otherwise, there is justifiable concern over whether the Flyers will have enough scoring-by-committee contributions to win games.
On the flip side, it should also be noted that the club has been making a concerted effort to be more defensively responsible. The Flyers have held opponents to two or one goal in three of the five preseason games (four of five if Washington’s empty net goal in Wednesday’s 3-1 loss is excluded). If one is to read into the preseason offense as a troubling sign, the preseason GAA is a hopeful one.
In reality, there has only been one day of in-depth systems work (apart from video sessions) so far in camp. The quality of opposing lineups in the preseason varies widely from game-to-game despite injury-related and player evaluation considerations.
Is there legitimate reason to be concerned over the Flyers’ ability to score? Yes. Is there reason to believe that John Tortorella will get teamwide buy-in to playing with structure and defensive responsibility? Yes, because that’s been a characteristic of his past teams and a central message related to the identity that he envisions for his new one.
This is the big picture as the preseason finale looms. But in terms of preseason hockey in and of itself, the game results and final scores need to be taken with a grain of salt.
2. Not the typical ‘dress rehearsal’.
Much of the time, teams treat their final preseason game as a “dress rehearsal” for opening night. They’ll start most or all of the lineup that will appear on opening night. There’s less experimentation with line combinations and situational deployments. The opening night goalie usually goes the distance in the preseason finale.
However, as Tortorella points out, the Flyers are “nicked” with a variety of injuries. Getting as healthy as possible for opening night is a bigger priority than getting everyone preseason minutes. That is why Konecny (who wiped out after scoring a goal in the Buffalo game, missed his final two shifts of the period and then returned to finish the game) hasn’t played. It’s why Provorov has only appeared in one game. It’s why Hart hasn’t played.
None are in the lineup for the preseason finale. Neither Atkinson nor Rasmus Ristolainen participated in the morning skate.
On the flip side, the absences of so many regulars present opportunities for young players the Flyers need to step up during the 2022-23 season (such as Cam YorkFrost, Owen Tippett, Noah Cates and Wade Allison) and for players on the roster bubble (such as Tanner Laczynski and Jack Cates, who are battling for the 4C spot) to get extended looks.
Following is the Flyers’ game-night roster and non-game group:
3. Flyers Line Combinations
Following are the Flyers line combinations in the morning skate before the preseason finale.
N. Cates – Hayes – Tippett
JVR – Frost – Hodgson
J. Cates – Laughton – Allison
Deslauriers – Laczynski – MacEwen
York – Attard
Sanheim-Braun
Seeler – Belpedio
Grosenick
Ersson
4. Goalie competition
With Hart being held and Felix Sandström having left Saturday’s game after the first period with a lower-body injury, both veteran goaltenders. Troy Grosenick and prospect Ersson have had extended opportunities to state their case for making the NHL opening night roster.
Ersson has been the Flyers’ most impressive goalie in camp. Grosenick has played competently thus far.
5. Behind enemy lines: New York Islanders
After concluding the preseason, the Flyers will have a nine-day hiatus from games until the team opens the regular season at home against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 13. The Islanders, meanwhile, have two additional exhibition games on tap as they host the Devils on Thursday and the New York Rangers on Saturday.
Per Andrew Gross, the Islanders are starting many of their regulars in Tuesday’s game. However, Mathew Barzal is not in the lineup after playing on Sunday.
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