On the road, the Philadelphia Flyers (1-3-0) will finish the weekend back-to-back tonight versus the New York Islanders (0-2-0) after being shut out in Boston.
John Tortorella will be on the bench with the team. He watched from above over the first four games. Will his presence elicit a complete performance? Already, it’s important to note how the Flyers respond in the second period.
“I think handling momentum swings in games that mean something when you start the regular season are very important as far as who you are. I think we have a ways to go there, and to me, that’s mental. Those aren’t physical skills, that’s a mental skill.”
John Tortorella; 10/2/2022
Critical for Philadelphia this close to the start of the regular season is the health of the lineup. Cam Atkinson, Joel Farabee, Carter Hart, and Felix Sandstrom remain out to heal ahead of the regular season. Conspicuous by his absence from the lineup is Ivan Provorov, especially with Tony DeAngelo in.
“We’ve got some bumps and bruises and nicks. We’re gonna’ be cautious with that and prepare for the first regular season game.”
John Tortorella; 10/2/2022
The Islanders have only played two preseason games. After five days’ rest, will they skate past a tired team, or will the Flyers look more in sync?
New York Islanders
Here is the probable Islanders’ roster for tonight’s preseason contest, per Andrew Gross:
- Forwards: Nelson, Barzal, Pageau, Raty, Lee, Beauvillier, Bailey, Parise, Palmieri, Soshnikov, Wahlstrom, Clutterbuck, Holmstrom
- Defensemen: Salo, Mayfield, Romanov, Dobson, Helgeson, Hutton
- Goaltenders: Varlamov, Skarek
Nikita Soshnikov scored half of the goals for the Islanders this preseason. He is the only forward to put a puck in the back of the net. Offensively, they’re on par with Philadelphia. Soshnikov is a sniper in space, which he proved against the New Jersey Devils.
Robin Salo tallied the other half of the Islanders’ goals this preseason. In traffic, he waited for an opportunity to wrist a shot on goal against the New York Rangers. In two games, the Islanders produced two goals.
Semyon Varlamov will start tonight for the Islanders, backed up by Jakub Skarek. Last season, Varlamov was 1-0-0 against the Flyers, securing a shootout victory.
Philadelphia Flyers
Here is the roster for Philadelphia:
- Forwards: Allison, Brooks, J. Cates, N. Cates, Deslauriers, Foerster, Frost, Hodgson, Laczynski, Laughton, Lycksell, Tippett, Willman
- Defensemen: Belpedio, Braun, Connauton, DeAngelo, Ginning, York, Zamula
- Goaltenders: Ersson, Grosenick, Nagle
Olle Lycksell might’ve had the most consistent effort against the Boston Bruins. He and Kevin Hayes had the best performances in a shutout loss. Lycksell had a hot first period and made a timely block on the penalty kill late in the third. To make a Tortorella roster, the forwards need to be more physical. When the Islanders crash the net, Lycksell needs to help his goaltender; learning from his mistake yesterday.
DeAngelo did not have an ideal performance with Provorov against the Washington Capitals. Tortorella outright said they weren’t good. He’ll play with York tonight, getting additional repetitions without his opening night partner.
Troy Grosenick allowed three goals in yesterday’s loss to the Bruins. Sandstrom left the game with a lower-body injury, meaning there is an added opportunity for Samuel Ersson to make a golden impression.
“I have no updates. I haven’t talked to Tommy. Obviously, he got nicked up there. I don’t know where he stands right now.”
John Tortorella; 10/2/2022
Game Information
Watch tonight’s stream of the Philadelphia Flyers against the New York Islanders on the Flyers’ NHL site. Listen on 97.5 The Fanatic.
(Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)
