The Flyers’ blue line took another hit, and this one comes at a bad time.
Rasmus Ristolainen returned to action in Saturday’s 5-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks after missing three weeks, but his comeback was short-lived. He had been out since Oct. 3, and in that game against Anaheim he logged just 18 shifts and 14:34 of ice time. That was a noticeable drop from his last fully healthy outing on Oct. 1, when he played 33 shifts and 22:44.
That leaves Philadelphia once again scrambling on defense. The encouraging part, if there is one, is that rookie Oliver Bonk has stepped in and looked unusually steady beside Travis Sanheim on the top pair. Bonk has handled the role well enough to qualify as a real bright spot for a team that needs one.
If the Flyers are going to stay in the race at all, that kind of stability has to keep going while Ristolainen is out.
Behind that top pair, the team appears ready to keep piecing things together. Hunter McDonald, Simon Benoit and David Jiricek are the names expected to make up the third pair rotation, and Hall reported that McDonald and Benoit were the third pair at Monday’s practice.
Cam York remains on injured reserve, and he was paired with Jiricek on a fourth defense pair. Jiricek, meanwhile, looks set to be a healthy scratch for a third straight game when the Flyers host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night.
Ristolainen’s latest setback also matters because of where he stands contractually. He is in the final year of his deal and carries a $5.1 million cap hit. For now, he has one goal in four games this season.
In Other News...
Ducks Showed Fight In Philly But One Big Question Remains
The Anaheim Ducks wrapped up a four-game East Coast trip with a much-needed lift in Philadelphia, where their offense finally found enough rhythm to produce a 5-4 win over the Flyers after a sluggish start to the swing. After being held down through the first three stops against the Rangers, Islanders and Devils, Anaheim got contributions from Leo Carlsson, A.J. Greer and Tristan Luneau and looked far more engaged in the kind of back-and-forth game that had been missing for much of the trip.
Physicality was part of the Ducks edge on this night, and it showed up in a game that drifted into penalty trouble before the final horn. For Philadelphia, the loss was another reminder that the margin can disappear quickly when an opponent starts to play with more bite, while Anaheim still leaves town with a broader question hanging over the trip: whether this burst was a sign of something sustainable or just the one game where everything finally clicked. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Are Leaning Into Toughness As Defensive Questions Keep Growing
Rick Tocchet spent part of a recent practice session turning a teachable moment into a practical one, working with defenseman Hunter McDonald after the teams latest game incident. The Flyers coach has made it clear that progress for young defensemen is about more than just positioning and puck movement. In his view, part of the job is learning how to handle themselves physically, protect teammates and survive the rough edges that come with NHL hockey.
That message lands at a time when the blue line is still unsettled. Rasmus Ristolainen remains out with a hand injury, and Cam York is getting close to returning from injured reserve, leaving the Flyers to sort through more lineup uncertainty while they wait for stability on defense. McDonalds development matters in that mix, and Tocchets hands-on approach suggests the staff is leaning into toughness as much as structure while the group keeps taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Suddenly Face A Goaltending Question They Cant Ignore
Chris Tanev was back in a full team skate for the first time since his injury, though he was still wearing a non-contact jersey and there is no clear timetable for his return. Around the league, roster shuffling has continued to pick up, with the Oilers placing Devon Levi on injured reserve and bringing up Matt Tomkins for emergency depth, while Taylor Hall is nearing a return for Carolina after missing five games and Mats Zuccarello remains sidelined with an upper-body injury.
For the Flyers, the more immediate concern is the blue line, where Rasmus Ristolainen is expected to miss about two weeks with an upper-body injury. Philadelphia will have to manage without one of its physical defenders for the short term, and how the next stretch unfolds could depend on how he responds to treatment as the team works through its defensive mix. [Read more 🡒]