Matchday 22 Preview: Flyers vs. Golden Knights

The Philadelphia Flyers (9-10-2) face the Vegas Golden Knights (13-6-2) looking to build on the momentum of their thrilling 3-2 comeback win in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks.

While the Flyers are trending upward in many areas, the Golden Knights pose a significant challenge, but the Flyers are bolstered by the Knights’ “mediocre” road record and a near-fully healthy defense that is ready to get back under control as Unit.

(Almost) back to full strength

After weeks of injuries, the Flyers’ defense is bouncing back, with Cam York and Emil Andrae returning to the lineup. Although both players showed some rust in their return against Chicago, their presence has bolstered the blue line’s mobility and puck-moving abilities.

York, who thrives in transition and contributes to the rush, and Andrae, known for his sharp instincts and composure, will play key roles against a Golden Knights team that excels at generating pressure and capitalizing on turnovers . With the defense almost fully healthy, head coach John Tortorella can rely on a more balanced rotation, which should help keep his team organized against a potent Vegas attack.

Fedotov in the crease

Ivan Fedotov will once again take over the goaltending duties for the Flyers, continuing his strong campaign. The towering goalkeeper was a stabilizing force and had a calm demeanor that was crucial in high-pressure moments.

Against a Golden Knights team that is one of the most efficient offensive players in the league, Fedotov will have to be at his best. Their ability to score in waves will test the Flyers’ defensive structure and Fedotov’s ability to track the puck through traffic.

As the Flyers look to keep up with Vegas, Fedotov’s performance could make all the difference in their chances of winning. He’s proven he’s more than capable of making long, tough saves, and increased defense in front of him could certainly ease some of the pressure as he continues to prove his worth in the NHL.

Just keep scoring

The Flyers’ thrilling overtime win over Chicago underscored their resilience, but also underscored the need to add more players to the offense. Tortorella continued to reshape the forward lines to boost production, with the team aiming for a more unified offensive identity.

The dynamic play of usual suspects like Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov and more recently Bobby Brink has set the tone, but the Flyers will need secondary scoring and better puck support to remain competitive against the Golden Knights.

Re-energized by their comeback win, the Flyers have the opportunity to test themselves against one of the league’s current top performers. Maintaining discipline and composure in all three periods of play will be crucial against Vegas, where lapses will be swiftly punished.

Projected lines

Philadelphia Flyers

Forward:

Joel Farabee – Sean Couturier – Travis Konecny
Owen Tippett – Morgan Frost – Matvei Michkov
Tyson Foerster – Noah Cates – Bobby Brink
Scott Laughton – Ryan Poehling – Garnet Hathaway

Defense:

Cam York-Travis Sanheim
Emil Andrae – Rasmus Ristolainen
Nick Seeler – Helge Grans

Starting goalkeeper:

Ivan Fedotov

Vegas Golden Knights

Forward:

Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Alexander Holtz
Tomas Hertl – Nicolas Roy – Keegan Kolesar
Brett Howden – William Karlsson – Pavel Dorofeyev
Tanner Pearson – Cole Schwindt – Cal Burke

Defense:

Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin – Zach Whitecloud
Nicolas Hague – Kaden Korczak

Starting goalkeeper:

Ilya Samzinov

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