The Philadelphia Flyers (0-6-3) are STILL hunting down their first win of the season on Saturday when they host the Ottawa Senators (6-2-0) at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM ET.
The Flyers scored first in their last game against the Detroit Red Wings, who eventually tied it. Then, Philly gave up a late-game goal and chased during the final minutes, but could not find the tying goal. That was loss No. 9 of the season, and the Flyers now face their 10th straight.
The Senators had been cruising this season before being shelled in a 7-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. However, they bounced back with a 2-1 shootout win against the New York Islanders on Thursday. They’ll look to keep building on that Saturday against the Flyers.
Puck drop is at 7:00 PM ET on Saturday. Here is everything you need to know before the game.
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Flyers Projected Lines & Pairs vs. Senators
Forwards
Trevor Zegras – Christian Dvorak – Tyson Foerster
Denver Barkey – Sean Couturier – Michael Bunting
Porter Martone – Noah Cates – Matvei Michkov
Garrett Wilson – Jack Studnicka – Noel Acciari
Defensemen
Travis Sanheim – Oliver Bonk
Nick Seeler – Jamie Drysdale
Simon Benoit – David Jiricek
Goalies
Dan Vladar
Joseph Woll
Special Teams
PP1: Jiricek, Zegras, Foerster, Michkov, Barkey
PP2: Drysdale, Bonk, Dvorak, Martone, Bunting
PK1: Couturier, Dvorak, Bonk, Sanheim
PK2: Cates, Foerster, Seeler, Benoit
Notes
The Flyers could be without Owen Tippett for Saturday night’s contest. Tippett, who was absent at morning skate, will be a game-time decision, per head coach Rick Tocchet, as he is dealing with an upper-body injury. While he has not chipped in much offensively this season (but who really has?), Tippett’s speed and physicality will surely be missed if he cannot go.
The last time these two teams met, the Flyers put a lot of pressure on the Senators. It was a 2-1 final score, and the Flyers lost it following a late-game power-play goal for Ottawa. It was one of Philly’s better fights of the season. A week later, the two teams are on opposite sides of the standings. This could be one the Senators look over, but given how it went last time, expect a strong start for Ottawa.
Before the Detroit game, I mentioned how I would have played Garrett Wilson in an attempt to light a spark. Obviously, he did not. In the event that Tippett cannot play, Garrett Wilson will draw into the lineup. A good early tilt could help get the Flyers into the game early.
Dan Vladar is getting the net for the Flyers on Saturday, as will Linus Ullmark for the Senators. It’s a top goalie matchup, which could be a problem for the Flyers. Ullmark has a 1.20 GAA, a .949 SV%, and a 6-0-0 record so far. That could be trouble for a team struggling to generate offense.
How to Watch Flyers vs. Senators
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia, ESPN+ (Out-of-market stream)
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Puck drop is at 7:00 PM ET at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
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