Flyers at Bruins: Projected lines, pairs, and three players to watch

The Philadelphia Flyers are back in action tonight against the Boston Bruins. It’s the Flyers’ second preseason game, but a lot of the players will be suiting up for the first time in tonight’s lineup.

Tyson Foerster and Nick Seeler are playing for the second straight game while the rest of the lineup are making their preseason debut.

Flyers projected lineup

Flyers forward lines

Here are the projected Flyers lines for tonight’s game against the Bruins:

James van Riemsdyk – Morgan Frost – Joel Farabee
Nate Thompson – Scott Laughton – Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Gerry Mayhew – Cal O’Reilly – Tyson Foerster
Garrett Wilson – Jackson Cates – Linus Sandin

The Flyers have two NHL lines and two AHL lines tonight.

Morgan Frost will make his preseason debut centering JVR and Farabee. It’s the top line tonight, but the Flyers’ second line overall. It’ll be a tough test for Frost and company against a veteran-laden Bruins lineup.

The Flyers’ second line tonight is projected to be their fourth line to open the season. It’s a grind-it-out defensive line with NAK looking to bounce back from last season.

Newcomers impress and Carter Hart solid in net, but Flyers drop preseason opener in OT

Tyson Foerster is the only interesting name to watch on the third line. He’s playing in his second straight game.

Jackson Cates got a few games with the Flyers last season, but he’s destined for the AHL this year. Linus Sandin has an outside chance of being called up during the season as an injury replacement.

Flyers defense pairs

Travis Sanheim – Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York – Adam Clendening
Nick Seeler – Wyatte Wylie

Rasmus Ristolainen will make his Flyers debut tonight on the top pair with Travis Sanheim. A lot is riding on Ristolainen benefitting from a change of scenery and Sanheim taking a step forward this season. They’ll be the second pair to open the season.

Cam York is a prospect to watch on the blue line. Egor Zamula impressed in Tuesday’s preseason opener, but suffered a lower-body injury. That could make this preseason that much more important for York.

Nick Seeler is making a case to be the Flyers’ seventh defenseman. He was solid on Tuesday night and will get another chance tonight, this time with Wylie instead of Zamula.

Flyers goalie

Martin Jones
Felix Sandstrom

Martin Jones will make his Flyers debut in net. The Flyers are counting on him to return to form under goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh.

Three Flyers to watch

Morgan Frost

It’s getting Frosty in Philadelphia. Morgan Frost has a huge opportunity in front of him to prove that he can be a second-line center in the NHL. The Bruins are dressing most of their top-six forwards tonight, so it could be a crucial game for Frost.

It won’t be a make-or-break game, though. The Flyers seem intent on using Frost as the second-line center, especially in Kevin Hayes’ absence.

Rasmus Ristolainen

How will the polarizing defenseman look in his first game with the Flyers? We know he’ll bring the physicality, but he can’t let that get the best of him. The top-pair defenseman in Buffalo is looking to improve his game in a lesser –– albeit still important –– role with the Flyers.

Martin Jones

Martin Jones won’t exactly have an NHL lineup in front of him. Still, all eyes are on the netminder in his first game with the Flyers.

Carter Hart was solid in his two periods on Tuesday night. The Flyers are hoping Jones can be the 1B to Hart’s 1A this season.

Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET between the Flyers and Bruins on TNT.

Photo: Heather Barry Images

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