The Dallas Stars staged a dramatic third period turnaround in Game One of the Western Conference Final. Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final is on Thursday night in Raleigh. Meanwhile, the medal round quarterfinal matches at the 2025 IIHF World Championships are on Thursday morning to afternoon eastern U.S. time.
Additionally, there’s some news on the coaching front in the Flyers’ organization. Here are your Flyers’ Quick Hits for May 22, 2025.
World Championships: Canada vs. Denmark, Sweden vs. Czechia
The four quarterfinal games at the 2025 IIHF World Championships are on tap for Thursday as a precursor to the Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes match in Raleigh this evening. Most Flyers fans who are following the Worlds are focused on Team Canada.
On Thursday, Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim and Tyson Foerster are in quarterfinal action in Herning against tournament co-host Team Denmark. Meanwhile, Team Sweden will take on Czechia. There is a chance that Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson could play against Boston Bruins’ sniper David Pastrnak and company. Pastrnak leads all players in scoring during the tourney to date.
Earlier in the day, Team USA will take on Finland. The game starts at 10:20 a.m. EDT at Avicii Arena in Stockholm. Simultaneously, Team Switzerland opposes Austria in Herning.
Sources: Phantoms will have a new head coach in 2025-26
Multiple organizational sources around the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms indicated on Wednesday that Ian Laperriere will not be returning as the Phantoms’ head coach for the 2025-26 season. Additionally, it is unlikely that Laperriere will serve as an NHL assistant coach under Rick Tocchet next season.
Laperriere has not been fired from the organization. It is possible that he could fill a different role with the Flyers next season. However, that role has not yet been determined. No official announcements have been been made on any front thus far. However, well-placed organizational sources have confirmed the above.
“Lappy” served as Phantoms head coach the last four seasons. Previously, he spent nine seasons (2013-14 to 2021-22) as a Flyers assistant coach under Craig Berube, Dave Hakstol, Scott Gordon, Alain Vigneault, and Mike Yeo. Laperriere had stints as the penalty kill coach and as a bench assistant during the nine-season period. Prior to that, Laperriere worked with Flyers prospects as a development coach.
As with most every AHL head coach, Laperriere coveted a chance to become an NHL head coach. With Rick Tocchet now the parent team head coach and Lappy having spent nine previous years as an NHL assistant, he seemed to be at a crossroads.
Report: Shaw hired by Devils
Former Flyers interim head coach and longtime penalty kill/blueline coach Brad Shaw appears headed for Newark. Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period reported on Wednesday that Shaw will join Sheldon Keefe’s staff with the New Jersey Devils as an assistant/associate coach.
When Tocchet accepted the Flyers’ head coach job, general manager Daniel Briere offered Shaw the opportunity to return to the assistant/associate role he performed very ably during John Tortorella’s head coaching tenure. Shaw declined.
Meet Stanley: Future service dog
Recently, the Flyers Alumni partnered with Team Foster and America’s ServiceDogs to create a life-changing donation for a veteran or first responder in need. Team Foster will help raise a labrador retriever puppy in preparation for advanced service dog training. When ready, the dog will be donated to a recipient in need.
To celebrate the special program, the Flyers and Flyers Alumni Association conducted an online poll for Flyers fans to choose an name for the future service dog. The top choice: Stanley.
On Tuesday night, the Flyers Alumni held a meet-and-greet at the Great American Pub in Conshohockeen. Participating Alumni included Bob Kelly, Joe Watson, Brad Marsh, Chris Therien, John LeClair, Neil Little and Ed Hospodar. Flyers Fans also had the chance to meet Stanley for the first time.
Broadcasters’ Roundtable: Tocchet Hire
Tim Saunders, Jim Jackson, Jason Myrtetus and Brian Smith assembled this week for the latest edition of Broadcasters’ Roundtable. Unsurprisingly, Rick Tocchet’s hiring as Flyers head coach dominated the discussion. Timmy, J.J., Myrt and Smitty also discussed other decisions ahead in the 2025 offseason.
