The Philadelphia Flyers (1-1-0) continue their road trip with a matchup against the Edmonton Oilers (0-3-0) this evening. On Saturday, the Flyers fell to the Calgary Flames, 6-3, following a back-to-back to start the 2024-25 season.
Tonight’s matchup is the only time the Flyers will play in Edmonton for the rest of the season. The next time both teams face each other again will be on February 22 in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Flyers (1-1-0)
The Flyers opened the season on a high note against the Vancouver Canucks last Friday with a 3-2 shootout win. Samuel Ersson saved 24/26 shots, and Morgan Frost sealed the deal in the shootout to give the Flyers two points to begin a new season.
On Saturday, the Flames took advantage of the Flyers’ tired legs. Noah Cates drew into the lineup for Jett Luchanko, and Ivan Fedotov struggled, giving up five goals and saving 26/31 shots. After two days off, the Flyers can take advantage of an Oilers roster that is off to a slow start.
Matvei Michkov picked up his first career NHL regular season assist in the loss on Saturday. He played on the left wing during the first two games, but he will be back on the right wing tonight. In his NHL debut in Vancouver, Michkov recorded 18:32 of ice time. Against Calgary, he recorded 18:36 of ice time.
Joel Farabee didn’t participate in practice yesterday due to a “maintenance day.” Farabee is tied with Sidney Crosby for the NHL’s longest-active Ironman streak. Farabee has played in 174 straight games going back from 2021-22. He has not missed a single game since John Tortorella took over behind the bench.
Flyers’ practice lines, per Charlie O’Connor:
Tippett – Frost – Michkov
Foerster – Luchanko – Konecny
Farabee – Couturier – Brink
Deslauriers/Cates – Poehling – Hathaway
York – Sanheim
Johnson – Drysdale
Andrae – Zamula
Edmonton Oilers (0-3-0)
It feels like Groundhog Day for the Oilers. They started off slow last year, and they’re in the same position again. They were dominated by the Winnipeg Jets last Wednesday, 6-0, lost to the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Saturday, and fell to the Flames 4-1 on Sunday. Nothing seems to be going right for the Oilers again early on, but you can never count out a team led by Connor McDavid.
McDavid is still looking for his first goal of the season. He has recorded two assists so far but hasn’t found the back of the net. In 15 games versus the Flyers in his career, McDavid has 31 points (11G, 20A) and is a +16.
Zach Hyman is also off to a slow start. Last year, Hyman scored a career-high 54 goals. He hasn’t recorded any points in the first three games, but once his first chance goes in, the floodgates could open.
Projected Lineup for the Edmonton Oilers:
Skinner-McDavid-Hyman
Nugent-Hopkins-Draisaitl-Arvidsson
Podkolzin-Henrique-Brown
Janmark-Ryan-Perry
Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Dermott
Kulak-Stecher
Skinner
Pickard
Betting Guide
*Bets are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Philadelphia Flyers moneyline (+164)
Edmonton Oilers moneyline (-200)
Connor McDavid anytime goal scorer (+135)
Zach Hyman anytime goal scorer (+130)
Matvei Michkov anytime goal scorer (+270)
How to Watch
You can watch the Flyers take on the Oilers on ESPN. The radio broadcast will be available on 97.5 The Fanatic and Flyers Radio 24/7. The puck drops from Rogers Place at 10:00 p.m. EDT.
