Will the Philadelphia Flyers (23-25-6) ever score again?
The Flyers are in the longest regular season scoring drought in club history. The New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders, and the Colorado Avalanche all held Philadelphia to zero goals scored. Consecutively and actively, it’s been 180:15 since the last time anyone scored.
“You get shut out three times; there’s nothing similar to this. We’ve got to stay within ourselves; not get into a little bit of a tizzy, get more pucks to the net, [and] try to get some guys untrapped.” – John Tortorella; 2/3/2025
Tonight in the Delta Center, the Flyers visit the Utah Hockey Club (21-22-9) at 9:00pm/ET. Utah won the previous contest in December, 4-2.
Utah (-135) is the favorite on home ice. This season, Philadelphia averaged more goals scored per game, but irony strikes as they’re currently in a three-game scoring drought. Special teams, success at the faceoff circle, and average goals against per game all favor Utah. The Flyers remain unclear about their lineup or whether Andrei Kuzmenko or Jakob Pelletier will play.
When: 2/4/2025 9:00pm/ET
Where: Delta Center; Salt Lake City, UT
Broadcast Info: NBC Sports Philadelphia; Flyers Radio 24/7
Last Game PHI: 2/2/25; 2-0 L; at Colorado Avalanche
Last Game UT: 2/2/25; 2-1 L; vs. St. Louis Blues
Philadelphia Flyers
On the injury report, Ryan Poehling, Rasmus Ristolainen, Owen Tippett, and Egor Zamula (upper body) are all day-to-day.
Sam Ersson (15-10-2; 2.84GAA, 89.2%SV) is the projected starter. John Tortorella said throughout the season that he wants Ersson to take on a starting goaltender workload. He was lit up twice in his last five starts (2-3-0) by the Devils and the New York Rangers. Ersson was tuned in against the Avalanche but couldn’t get the offensive support to back up his effort.
Anthony Richard (2G, 4A, 52.1%CF) is not producing as he had in his first seven-game stint (2G, 4A) with Philadelphia. After tonight, his second recall (7GP) from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms offers the same sample size. The Flyers are battling injuries and, following the trade with the Calgary Flames, are depleted at LW and C until Kuzmenko and Pelletier join the lineup. Richard is seeing an uptick in minutes due to a matter of circumstance.
Erik Johnson (-2, 14BLK, 35HIT, 7TK:16GV, 41.1%FF) is not a usual suspect in the lineup. Lately, he’s becoming a more common thread in the defensive unit. The speedskating extraordinaire turned in a physical performance at the Ball Arena in Colorado, especially after Ristolainen exited at the end of the second period. Johnson could maintain his elevated role alongside Emil Andrae.
Projected Lineup: Philadelphia Flyers
#71 Tyson Foerster – #27 Noah Cates – #11 Travis Konecny
#90 Anthony Richard – #14 Sean Couturier – #39 Matvei Michkov
#21 Scott Laughton – #18 Rodrigo Ābols – #10 Bobby Brink
#44 Nicolas Deslauriers – #78 Jacob Gaucher – #19 Garnet Hathaway
#8 Cam York – #6 Travis Sanheim
#36 Emil Andrae – #77 Erik Johnson
#24 Nick Seeler – #9 Jamie Drysdale
#33 Sam Ersson
(#82 Ivan Fedotov)
Projected Lineup: Utah Hockey Club
#9 Clayton Keller – #15 Alex Kerfoot – #8 Nick Schmaltz
#63 Matias Maccelli – #27 Barrett Hayton – #91 Josh Doan
#67 Lawson Crouse – #22 Jack McBain – #53 Michael Carcone
#38 Liam O’Brien – #82 Kevin Stenlund – #17 Nick Bjugstad
#98 Mikhail Sergachev – #6 John Marino
#28 Ian Cole – #7 Michael Kesselring
#2 Olli Määttä – #57 Nick DeSimone
#39 Connor Ingram
(#70 Karel Vejmelka)
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