The Philadelphia Flyers, boasting a record of 6-4-1, are set to rebound from their recent loss when they face off against the struggling Calgary Flames, who currently sit at 2-9-2. This matchup will wrap up the Flyers’ five-game homestand and is scheduled for Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Calgary has encountered considerable difficulties this season, with Calder Trophy finalist Dustin Wolf not performing up to expectations. The Flames have lost their last three games, including a recent defeat in Nashville where Wolf was pulled after the first period in a challenging outing.
In contrast, the Flyers had been on a winning streak until they faced the Toronto Maple Leafs, where they fell 5-2. This defeat exposed shortcomings in their performance that had been masked by strong goaltending in previous games. With their sights set on a revitalized effort against Calgary, the Flyers aim to correct their mistakes and reclaim their winning form.
The expected lineup for the Flyers includes forwards Owen Tippett, Trevor Zegras, and Matvei Michkov among others, and a defensive pairing featuring Cam York and Travis Sanheim. Goaltending will see Dan Vladar starting, with Aleksei Kolosov as backup. Special team units will include a first power-play line that combines Drysdale, Dvorak, Michkov, Tippett, and Konecny.
Key players to monitor include Tyson Foerster, who played through pain after a skate shot in the last game, raising questions about his readiness for Sunday. Sean Couturier’s status remains uncertain, having been considered a game-time decision previously. With health being prioritized over immediate returns, the Flyers might opt to keep their lineup cautious against what is perceived as a weaker opponent.
A noteworthy storyline involves Trevor Zegras, who is on the verge of breaking the franchise record for the longest home point streak at the start of a Flyers career. Zegras currently shares the record of eight consecutive home games with an assist and needs just one more point to set a new record.
The Flyers and Flames squared off twice last season, both times ending in victories for Calgary by scores of 6-3. In those games, key performers for the Flyers included Couturier and Konecny, while Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri led the Flames in scoring against Philadelphia.
Fans can catch the action on NBC Sports Philadelphia+ and the NHL Network, or tune in to 93.3 WMMR on the radio. This game presents a critical opportunity for the Flyers to bounce back and restore their winning momentum.