Flyers Quick Hits: Mondays with Meltzer

Bill Meltzer’s Flyers blog on Hockey Hot Stove is brought to you by Phans of Philly, by Lights On Electric, by New Balance of Mount Laurel, and by Cover All Exteriors.

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Flyers Week Ahead

The Philadelphia Flyers have a rare three-night break in their schedule. The team practiced on Sunday and has Monday off. Subsequently, Rick Tocchet’s squad will practice on Tuesday before embark on a slate of three games (in three different cities) over four nights. Here’s a look at the week ahead.

  • Monday: Sled hockey guests. While the Flyers team itself will not practice on Monday, the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees won’t be without activity. Sponsored by Toyota, members of the Flyers, Flyers Alumni and Flyers Warriors and the Challenged Athletes Foundation will host 18 local sled hockey players. Additionally, Toyota will present local Navy veteran Audry Moore, a Challenged Athletes Foundation grantee, with a brand-new custom sled and a $1,500 grant for sports expenses. This will allow Audry to pursue her passion of playing sled hockey. 
  • Tuesday: practice day. Keep an eye out for which players practice on Tuesday and which (if any) spend another day off the ice. Tyson Foerster (IR, foot) has been skating on his own in recent days. He may not be ready for Wednesday’s game but he’s not expected to miss much more time. Meanwhile, the Flyers had three players — defensemen Cam York and Jamie Drysdale plus forward Christian Dvorak — take maintenance days on Sunday. Tocchet said Drysdale is a bit under the weather. Meanwhile, York and Dvorak got banged up on in Saturday’s game. Tocchet hopes all three can play on Wednesday but the next two days are vital to their availability.
  • Wednesday: Flyers vs. Oilers. Before going on the road, the Flyers face off with the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and company just suffered a humiliating 9-1 home loss at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche.The Oilers host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday evening before they head southeast.
  • Thursday: Travel day. The team has afternoon flight to St. Louis.
  • Thursday: Flyers @ Blues. The Blues squeaked into the Western Conference playoffs last year via tiebreaker over the Calgary Flames. The Blues are off to a rough start this season (5-8-3), although not nearly as rough as Calgary’s start. Nevertheless, the Blues are besieged with trade rumors. Depending on one’s perspective, the Flyers will either catch St. Louis at the best or the worst possible time to play them.
  • Friday: Flyers @ Stars. Second-tenure head coach Glen Gulutzan’s team hit an injury-riddled rough patch a couple weeks ago. Since then, the Stars (9-4-3) have righted their ship. They are 6-1-3 in their last 10.

Flyers in Memoriam: Mel Bridgman and Pelle Lindbergh

A former Flyers captain and the first overall pick in the 1975 NHL Draft, Bridgman carved a special place in team history. He is perhaps best known as the captain of the 1979-80 Flyers team that set a North American professional sports record with a 35-game unbeaten streak.

Bridgman passed away last Thursday night at the age of 70 after suffering heart failure. Tough as nails on the ice, Bridgman was a kind and very intelligent man off of the ice. After his playing days, he obtained an MBA from Penn’s Wharton School. Later, he became the first general manager of the Ottawa Senators.

I wrote a tribute article about Bridgman’s legacy in Philadelphia and the NHL for the Flyers official site.

November 10 sadly marks the 40th year anniversary of the fatal one-car crash that took the life of Vezina Trophy winning Flyers goaltender Pelle Lindbergh. On Friday night in Voorhees, I attended the premiere screening of the new Lindbergh documentary, The Swede of Philadelphia. Prior to the showing, I had dinner with the film’s director Charlie Minn, Kim Parent (Bernie Parent’s daughter), Justin Mirigliani, Toronto media personality Chuck Bastie, and others. Afterward, I met with crash survivor Kathy McNeal and members of the Flyers fan club.

It was a solemn occasion, given its significance. That said, I very much enjoyed seeing everyone there. The documentary is set to run at select local AMC theaters until November 20.

Flyers Daily: Mondays with Meltzer (Nov. 10, 2025)

The Flyers garnered five of six possible points last week. Jason Myrtetus and I talk about the takeaways from the games against the Canadiens, Predators, and Senators. We also deep dive into Matvei Michkov’s start to the season on and off the ice after an electric goal vs Ottawa. Additonally. look for a discussion on a Trevor Zegras’ contract, shot suppression, Sean Couturier’s postgame comments on Saturday and tons more. The episode runs 38 minutes but moves quickly (at least it seemed to on this end, because I enjoyed recording it with Jason).

Flyers Youth Special Hockey

The Philadelphia Flyers are the only NHL organizations that has officially lent its name and logo to Warriors hockey (disabled veteran), power wheelchair hockey, and youth special hockey programs. Each program is independently managed and operated but all carry the Flyers’ name and connections with the Flyer Alumni and with the Flyers Charities and Community department.

This year, Flyers Youth Special Hockey celebrates its 10th anniversary. On November 15, there will be a 10th anniversary celebration at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees (8:30 a.m. EST to 12:30 p.m.). The event features food, drink, games and hockey matches involving the kids of Flyers Special Hockey against other American Special Hockey Association teams Philadelphia Freeze, Mercer Bulldogs, and Woodbridge Warriors.

Over the last 10 years, Flyers Youth Special Hockey has provided access to the sport to more than 100 children (ages 5 and up) with developmental disabilities. The current team has 25 players, 20 of whom travel to play. The program itself is non-competitive: it’s about teaching hockey in a supportive and nurturing environment, not about willing or losing. The program provides 95 percent of the necessary hockey equipment free of charge to participants.

For more information, contact Mark Vonberg at 609-230-5277 or by email at [email protected]

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1 thought on “Flyers Quick Hits: Mondays with Meltzer”

  1. Ricos Active Stick

    Why is there no talk about Hathaway’s sub-par start so far this season? He’s certainly been a sandpaper player again this year, which is good, but no points whatsoever, a team worst -7, and has taken some BAD penalties even with extremely limited ice time.

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