Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers Game Day Preview: #41 VS Toronto Maple Leafs

Published

2 weeks ago

January 7, 2025

Philadelphia Flyers right wing Bobby Brink (10) controls the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (4) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)

The Philadelphia Flyers (17-18-5) return home to the Wells Fargo Center tonight when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs (26-13-2) for the second time in as many games. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.

The Flyers lost the previous matchup in overtime 3-2 in Toronto, and will look to flip the script on home ice.

Projected Lines

Forwards

Owen Tippett – Ryan Poehling – Travis Konecny

Scott Laughton – Morgan Frost – Matvei Michkov

Tyson Foerster – Noah Cates – Bobby Brink

Joel Farabee – Sean Couturier – Garnet Hathaway

Defensemen

Cam York – Travis Sanheim

Egor Zamula – Rasmus Ristolainen

Nick Seeler – Jamie Drysdale

Goalie

Ivan Fedotov

Power Play Units

PP1: Travis Konceny – Morgan Frost – Joel Farabee – Owen Tippett – Jamie Drysdale

PP2: Bobby Brink – Noah Cates – Tyson Foerster – Matvei Michkov – Rasmus Ristolainen

Penalty Kill Units

PK1: Scott Laughton – Joel Farabee – Travis Sanheim – Rasmus Ristolainen

PK2: Ryan Poehling – Garnet Hathaway – Nick Seeler – Egor Zamula

Back-to-Back for Fedotov

After not seeing in-game action for over a month, Ivan Fedotov got his first start in the Flyers in Sunday’s contest in Toronto.

Fedotov held a dynamic Maple Leafs’ offense to three goals –which, by Flyers goaltending standards, is a good night. He earned his next start as the Flyers continue to search for a solution to their problems in goal.

Slight Tensions

Late in the first period of Sunday’s game, Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe dropped the gloves with Flyers forward Garnet Hathway. McCabe went to the ground, with Hathaway landing on top, causing McCabe to hit his head on the ice and was forced to exit the game. McCabe is now on the IR for Toronto.

That put a target on Hathaway’s back. Max Domi was one player who notably went after Hathaway, who was fined $5,000 for elbowing. Domi also earned himself a minor penalty on the play.

Hockey is a physical sport, and sometimes tensions come and go. With McCabe getting put on the IR, the target may not be off Hathaway’s back quite yet.

In Case You Missed the Last One

In case you did not watch the last game, the Flyers dropped an overtime game to the Leafs in Toronto. Morgan Riley netted the game-winner in OT off a feed from Matthews, who was just in front of the blue line.

Tyson Foerster scored the game’s first goal for the second straight game, followed by first-period goals from the Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Scott Laughton scored the only goal in the second period in front of his hometown crowd, with friends and family in the stands—a place where the Flyers have struggled and the Leafs have thrived.

The Flyers fell short in the end but played much better than expected.

How to Watch

Tonight’s game will be nationally broadcast/streamed on Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+, as well as the radio broadcast live on 97.5 The Fanatic. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.