PhHN Daily: Lottery Update, Phantoms Back Home, & Game 7 Impact on the Flyers

While the Flyers are not in the playoffs yet, some games still affect them.

The series between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche has unfortunately come to an end. Its final result was the best-case scenario for the Flyers.

In other news, the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will look a little bit different than it has in years past, and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms are back home while they chase the Calder Cup.

Read More: James: The Perfect Flyers Offseason

Draft Lottery to be Televised; Where Will the Flyers Pick?

The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will take place on Monday. The 7:00 p.m. EST viewing on ESPN will look very different this year.

Instead of watching virtual graphics of a countdown from 16 to 1, the NHL is broadcasting the entire lottery live. This means fans will be able to watch the balls get drawn and the results announced.

While it is not some super flashy event, the transparency of the drawing on live television will put all skeptics to rest.

The draft lottery will be the first early tell of what the Flyers may do with their first draft selection. If they win the lottery, you can expect Michael Misa or Matthew Schaefer to be a Flyer; if not, things become more and more interesting.

The Flyers could move as high as one or two, and as low as six. For now, we just have to wait on the results of Monday’s drawing.

Read More: 2025 NHL Draft Lottery Set for Early May

Phantoms Back at Home

After a 3-1 win on Friday, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms will return home to the PPL Center to take on the Hershey Bears in Game 3 of their second-round Calder Cup Playoff matchup.

The Bears blanked the Phantoms in Game 1, while Lehigh got back with its 3-1 Game 2 victory.

The Flyers’ AHL affiliate is in the midst of a Calder Cup Playoff run. It’s bolstered by adding some top Flyers prospects and swing players.

It’s a best-of-five series, so having the next two games at the PPL Center is a big momentum boost for the Flyers’ AHL affiliate. After Sunday’s Game 3, Game 4 is not until Friday, so there will be plenty of rest for both teams.

The Phantoms have the chance to put the back-to-back Calder Cup Champions on the ropes with a win on Sunday. The Phantoms could close the series out at home on Friday if they win Game 3.

Read More: Zayde Wisdom’s Two Shorties Help the Phantoms Tie the Series at One

Stanley Cup Final-Like Series Comes to an End

The Stanley Cup playoffs have been a treat to watch this year. The series between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars was no exception.

Despite not having Miro Heiskanen or Jason Robertson, the Dallas Stars took the series to a Game 7, and it was a classic.

Entering period three, the Stars were trailing Colorado 1-0. Nathan MacKinnon quickly made it 2-0 with a goal less than a minute into the third period. Dallas was scoreless, but not for long.

Who else but Mikko Rantanen to get Dallas on the board first? Suddenly, it was a 2-1 game with plenty of time remaining in the third period. The former Avs star would do it to his former team again, scoring six minutes later on the power play.

The Stars would end up on the power play yet again, and Wyatt Johnston would flip the script on the Avalanche, putting the Stars up 3-2 with less than four minutes to play.

Rantanen would hit the empty net for the hat-trick to eliminate his former team, and the Stars are moving on after a 4-2 win to close the thrilling series.

Now, the Avalanche pick is No. 22 and could rise to No. 21 if the Blues defeat the Jets in Game 7 Sunday night.

Regardless, that pick is in a position that the Flyers can easily move back into the mid-teens by pairing the Avalanche pick with a second-round pick, maybe more, depending on how far of a jump it is.

Read More: Flyers Mailbag: Draft, Change, & the Perfect Offseason

For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit Philly Hockey Now and like our Facebook page.
Follow us on 𝕏:
@wmjsports
@PhillyHockeyNow