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, by Cover All Exteriors, and our newest sponsors, The Mens and Boys Store and Carl’s Cards and Collectibles.
Rick Tocchet’s Philadelphia Flyers (13-7-3) are in Newark on Saturday to play Sheldon Keefe’s New Jersey Devils (16-7-1). The Devils have won three games a row since a 6-3 loss to the Flyers in Philadelphia last Saturday. New Jersey boasts a nearly unblemished 9-0-1 record on home ice so far (7-7-0 on the road). Meanwhile, the Flyers have posted at least one point (6-2-2) in eight of the last 10 games.
Tocchet’s club is coming off a 4-3 (2-1) road shootout win against the New York Islanders on Friday. The Devils blanked the Buffalo Sabres, 5-0, on the road on Friday.
After scoring the final two goals of Thursday’s 4-2 road win over the Florida Panthers, Tyson Foerster and Sean Couturier opened the scoring against the Islanders. The Flyers later received a power play goal from Trevor Zegras. Both Zegras and Travis Konecny scored in the shootout. In Friday’s Devils vs. Sabres game, Jake Allen stopped all 42 shots he faced. Arseny Gritsyuk talled his fifth and sixth goal of the season. Paul Cotter and veteran defenseman Brenden Dillon each scored a goal and an assist. Team captain Nico Hischier, who tallied twice against the Flyers last week, opened the scoring with his ninth goal of the season.
Leading scorers: Flyers
Trevor Zegras — 22 points (8g, 14a)
Travis Konecny — 17 points (5g, 12a)
Christian Dvorak — 15 points (6g, 9a)
Sean Couturier — 15 points (4g, 11a)
Owen Tippett — 14 points (6g, 8a)
Top goal scorer — Tyson Foerster (9g, 12 points)
Leading scorers: Devils
Nico Hischier– 22 points (9g, 13a)
Jesper Bratt — 22 points (5g, 17a)
Jack Hughes — 20 points (17 games, 10g, 10a) — Injured Reserve
Timo Meier — 20 points (8g, 12a)
Dawson Mercer — 18 points (9g, 9a)
Goaltenders: Flyers
Dan Vladar — 14 GP, 9-4-1, 2.39 GAA, .913 SV% — Projected Starter
Samuel Ersson — 8 GP, 4-2-2, 3.09 GAA, .859 SV%
Goaltenders: Devils
Jake Allen — 13 GP, 8-4-0, 2.27 GAA, .919 SV%
Jacob Markstrom — 11 GP, 7-3-1, 3.56 GAA, .874 SV% — Projected Starter
Where to watch
Time and broadcast: 6:00 p.m. ET on NBCSP
Listen online: FlyersRadio 24/7
Four keys to the game for Philadelphia: click here
In-game watch party (Maher Media): click here
Projected Flyers Lineup
The projected lineup below reflect Saturday’s lineup against the Islanders. The exception: Vladar is a lock to start in goal. Other possible changes: Nicolas Deslauriers may replace Nikita Grebenkin at LW4 and Egor Zamula could replaced Noah Juulsen at RD3.
Trevor Zegras- Christian Dvorak – Owen Tippett
Tyson Foerster – Noah Cates – Travis Konecny
Matvei Michkov – Sean Couturier – Bobby Brink
Nikita Grebenkin – Rodrigo Abols – Garnet Hathaway
Cam York – Travis Sanheim
Emil Andrae – Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler – Noah Juulsen
Samuel Ersson
Dan Vladar
Projected Scratches: Nicolas Deslauriers or Nikita Grebenkin (healthy), Egor Zamula or Noah Juulsen (healthy).
Flyers – Islanders Wrapup: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The good
- For just the seventh time all season, the Flyers played from ahead. They built a 2-0 lead in the first period and 3-0 in the second period. The rest of regulation and overtime, however, were far from ideal or orderly.
- Samuel Ersson had his second straight solid start.
- Trevor Zegras remains virtually automatic in shootouts. There’s now a lot of confidence that, if the game ends up in a skills competition, Philly will win.
- Cam York blocked four shots in the first period alone.
- Goals in back-to-back games for Sean Couturier.
The bad
- It goes without saying that letting a 3-0 lead slip away is never a good thing (even if you rescue a win in OT or a shootout) That’s the second it’s happened to the Flyers this season.
- Matvei Michkov’s careless high-sticking double minor in the third period easily could have cost the Flyers the game. Fortunately, the PK stepped up.
- Travis Konecny netted the winning shootout goal. However, he had a rough game otherwise with his decision making. He also did not have a shot attempts.
- This was a rough game for the fourth line. They were hemmed in a couple times. They turned over pucks. Most of all, they got scored on twice (the latter time after a Garnet Hathaway flubbed clearing opportunity and delayed penalty). Nikita Grebenkin got out of position a couple times and had an ugly turnover in the neutral zone. It was also not one of Rodrigo Abols better games.
The ugly
- The flubbed stick exchange at the bench and the 2-on-1 that led to New York’s first goal.
- The Flyers turned the puck over repeatedly in overtime.
Collectors Corner: Meet the Hound
Hockey Hot Stove is excited to welcome Carl’s Cards and Collectibles of Havertown (22 W. Eagle Rd.) to our growing family of Flyers and Phantoms content sponsors. Throughout each year, Carl’s hosts in-store appearances of local sports celebrities from every major sport. Owner Carl Henderson is a diehard Flyers fan in particular. He frequently sets up appearances for current or Alumni players.
Most recently, Carl’s brought in current Flyers goalie Dan Vladar. Coming next: Bob “the Hound” Kelly and longtime Philadelphia Inquirer beat writer Sam Carchidi. Sam will sign copies of his new book, “Bullies”.
Phantoms Update: Loss to WB/S, Play Laval
John Snowden’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms (11-6-2) remain winless this season against the Atlantic Division leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (14-4-1).
On Friday, the Phantoms suffered their third straight 4-1 loss to the Baby Pens. Previously, they lost by identical 4-1 scores on Oct. 12 (home) and Oct. 22 (away).
On Saturday, the Phantoms return over to the PPL Center in Allentown. The opponent: the North Division leading Laval Rocket. The Phantoms sustained a road 3-0 shutout loss in Laval on Oct. 29.
Phantoms leading scorers to date (19 games played)
Alex Bump: 15 points (4g, 11a)
Anthony Richard: 14 points (6g, 8a)
Carl Grundström: 14 points (5g. 9a)
Denver Barkey: 13 points (7g, 6a)
Lane Pederson: 13 points (6g, 7a)
Christian Kyrou: 13 points (4g, 9a in 15 games since his trade acquisition)
Alexis Gendron: 10 points (4g, 6a in 15 games)
Autograph and holiday collection event (Dec. 10, 2025)
South Jersey Flyers fans: Come out to the New Balance Mt. Laurel store on Dec. 10 to meet various Flyers Alumni as well as 1990s Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tommy Greene. The 2025 USA Hockey Warrior Classic top division champion Philadelphia Flyers Warriors will be on hand.
price of admission: one nonperishable food item (to be donated to Philabundance) and one unwrapped new toy or game (to be donated to Toys for Tots).
In return for the food and toy donation, attendees may have one or two items autographed for free. Additional signed items cost $10 per signature. Ten percent of all net proceeds will be donated to Snider Hockey. Additionally, Flyers Hall of Famer Dave Schultz will have copies of his new book, Hammered, for sale and autograph.
Expected Alumni attendees (subject to change): Mark Howe, Bill Barber, Joe Watson. Bob Kelly, Brad Marsh, and Frank “The Animal” Bialowas.
