Aleksei Kolosov’s final preseason outing for the Flyers may have said more than the score ever could.
Philadelphia wrapped up its exhibition schedule on Saturday night with a 5-1 loss to the Capitals, and while the Flyers dressed almost an entire NHL lineup, the night turned into a brutal showcase for their goalie depth. Garrett Wilson was in the lineup before heading back to Lehigh Valley Phantoms training camp, and Kolosov handled the crease for all 60 minutes.
For long stretches, the Flyers looked like the better team. They controlled play, piled up shots, and flashed a more open style than the defensively focused Rick Tocchet team from last season. Matvei Michkov kept building back toward form, Jamie Drysdale stood out in a larger role, and even Owen Tippett, who had been quiet for much of the preseason, showed a little life.
Then everything came apart on a pair of goals that put Kolosov squarely under the microscope.
The first major collapse came on Washington’s go-ahead goal in the second period, when David Jiricek sent a blind no-look pass in his own end and Maxim Schafer finished the chance. Christian Dvorak may have taken an unexpected route, but the turnover left the Flyers exposed.
Kolosov, though, still had to stop a shot that came straight at him, and he couldn’t get it done. The puck went in, and from there the game tilted hard.
The third Washington goal was just as damaging. The Capitals won the faceoff, the pointman found room after two forwards pressed too aggressively, and the puck was worked to 28-year-old Ethen Frank, who buried it for his 16th career NHL goal.
Noah Cates even got a stick on the pass to slow it down and buy Kolosov a little extra time, but it still slipped through. Frank scored up and over the goalie’s shoulder, and the Flyers’ night only got uglier.
This wasn’t a one-off that came out of nowhere. Kolosov’s last NHL appearance that mattered saw him give up three goals on three shots against the Rangers.
He had at least shown something earlier this week by stopping 14 of 17 shots against Boston, but Saturday undid a lot of that ground. The performance made one thing plain: he does not look like a goalie the Flyers can trust in a real NHL role.
That matters because the Flyers’ goaltending picture already feels fragile. The issue isn’t just the top of the depth chart; it’s what happens if the team needs help behind the starter.
Kolosov’s showing against Washington made it hard to imagine him being the answer in any meaningful stretch. The organization can’t afford to treat him like a dependable emergency option.
There’s also the AHL side of the equation. Kolosov wasn’t a strong Phantoms goalie last season either, posting an .895 save percentage in 38 games. Right now, he and prospect Carson Bjarnason are set to be the Phantoms tandem, and Bjarnason at 21 years old is not someone the Flyers should be expecting to rescue them at the NHL level if injuries hit.
That leaves general manager Danny Briere in a tough spot if the goaltending depth gets tested for more than a week. The Flyers would likely need to find someone else, because Saturday made it clear that handing Kolosov a bigger NHL opportunity could lead to more losses and more frustration. An aging veteran or a goalie in his mid-20s with real NHL experience would make far more sense than leaning on Kolosov.
For now, his path seems to lead back to the AHL, and maybe eventually to the KHL. The promise that once surrounded him is fading fast, and after this one, the Flyers can’t keep waiting for it to return.
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