After a tough return home that ended in a shutout loss to the Islanders, the Flyers are back on the road and looking to rediscover the spark they had during their last trip. This time, it’s a mid-week back-to-back that starts in Columbus, where they’ll face a divisional rival in the Blue Jackets - and this one’s got some serious weight to it. Columbus is gaining ground fast, and with both teams hovering around the same point total, every shift matters.
Flyers vs. Blue Jackets: The Numbers
Let’s start with where things stand. The Flyers come into this one at 24-18-9, sitting fourth in the Metro.
The Blue Jackets are just a couple spots back at 24-20-4. This isn’t just another game - it’s a matchup with playoff implications written all over it.
Flyers leaders:
- Goals: Trevor Zegras (19)
- Assists: Travis Konecny (28)
- Points: Trevor Zegras (46)
Blue Jackets leaders:
- Goals: Zach Werenski (19)
- Assists: Zach Werenski (36)
- Points: Zach Werenski (55)
Werenski’s been the engine for Columbus, and the Flyers will need to keep a close eye on him from the opening faceoff.
Projected Lineups
Philadelphia Flyers
- Top Line: Trevor Zegras - Christian Dvorak - Travis Konecny
- Second Line: Denver Barkey - Sean Couturier - Owen Tippett
- Third Line: Matvei Michkov - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink
- Fourth Line: Carl Grundstrom - Lane Pederson - Nikita Grebenkin
Defense Pairings:
- Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen
- Cam York - Jamie Drysdale
- Nick Seeler - Noah Juulsen
Goalie: Dan Vladar (Sam Ersson backing up)
Columbus Blue Jackets
- Top Line: Mason Marchment - Adam Fantilli - Kirill Marchenko
- Second Line: Boone Jenner - Sean Monahan - Kent Johnson
- Third Line: Cole Sillinger - Charlie Coyle - Mathieu Olivier
- Fourth Line: Dmitri Voronkov - Isac Lundeström - Miles Wood
Defense Pairings:
- Zach Werenski - Damon Severson
- Ivan Provorov - Denton Mateychuk
- Egor Zamula - Erik Gudbranson
Goalie: Elvis Merzlikins (Jet Greaves backing up)
Key Storylines to Watch
1. Lineup Tweaks Continue
The Flyers have been mixing and matching their lineup regularly - part injury management, part search for the right chemistry. Tonight, we’ll see more of that.
Emil Andrae will sit this one out as a healthy scratch after a rough outing against the Islanders. His puck management issues stood out even in a game where the whole team struggled, so this gives him a chance to reset.
Noah Juulsen steps in on the third pair.
One of the more intriguing moves is Rasmus Ristolainen getting bumped up to the top pair with Travis Sanheim. Ristolainen just returned from injury and had a mixed performance on Monday, but clearly the coaching staff saw enough to give him a bigger role. It’s a bit of a trial by fire, and how he handles it could be pivotal for this game - and his standing moving forward.
2. Vladar Returns Between the Pipes
All eyes in net tonight will be on Dan Vladar, who’s back after missing the last couple of weeks due to injury. He’s had time to ramp up in practice, but game speed is a different animal. The Flyers are hoping he can shake off the rust quickly, especially against a Blue Jackets team that’s been unpredictable offensively - scoring just once in three of their last five games, but exploding for eight in their most recent outing against Tampa Bay.
This start also gives Sam Ersson a well-earned breather. He’s carried the load with six straight appearances, and if all goes to plan, he’ll be ready to go again tomorrow night in Boston.
3. The Start of a Crucial Stretch
This isn’t just another road trip - it’s the beginning of a stretch that could define the Flyers’ season. With the Olympic break looming, the next few games are loaded with playoff implications.
Columbus tonight. Boston tomorrow.
Then it’s the Kings on Saturday, followed by matchups next week against the Capitals and Senators - both teams neck-and-neck with the Flyers in the standings.
Philadelphia does have a few games in hand, which gives them some flexibility, but that only matters if they capitalize. This stretch could be the difference between fighting for a playoff spot and falling out of the race entirely. A strong showing tonight would go a long way in setting the tone.
Final Thought
The Flyers have shown flashes of what they can be - a gritty, fast-paced team that can hang with anyone. But consistency has eluded them, and with the standings tightening up, there’s no more room for off nights.
Columbus is surging. The schedule is unforgiving.
And the margin for error is shrinking.
It starts tonight in Columbus. Let’s see if the Flyers are ready to answer the bell.