Flyers Face Islanders in Preseason Showdown in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Philadelphia Flyers will host the New York Islanders on Thursday at 7 p.m. EDT in their penultimate game of the 2025-26 preseason. The Flyers are currently 2-3-0 in preseason play and looking to build momentum before the regular season begins.

Head coach Rick Tocchet‘s team is set to be broadcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia and 97.5 The Fanatic. Tonight’s matchup carries significance as the Flyers finalize their roster decisions before opening night.

There are key storylines to follow during the game. One major area is the remaining roster battles among forwards. Tocchet and his staff are deciding whether to keep 13 or 14 forwards and whether to go with seven or eight defensemen. Excluding injured players, the Flyers have 14 forwards and eight defensemen still in camp, and tonight’s performance could influence those choices.

Among the forwards, 19-year-old Jett Lunchanko is pushing to make the opening roster for the second consecutive year. Additionally, Latvian center/winger Rodrigo Abols, who has played in every preseason game, will be looked at closely tonight. Veteran Nick Deslauriers also finds himself in a numbers challenge as he approaches the final season of his contract.

The defense lineup is also a focus for the Flyers. If the team chooses to open the season with eight defensemen, they have exactly eight healthy blueliners in camp. But making the final cut could come down to performances from players like Egor Zamula and Adam Ginning.

In terms of offense, Tocchet is looking to establish a productive line with Trevor Zegras at center and Matvei Michkov on the right wing. The key will be finding the right left winger to complement them. Players like Christian Dvorak, Nikita Grebenkin, and Owen Tippett are under consideration for this role.

The goaltending situation remains open as well, with Samuel Ersson and Dan Vladar each getting one more start before decisions for the opener against the Florida Panthers are made. Training and performance during practices and preseason games will be critical in determining which goalie takes the start.

Additionally, the Flyers have been working on improving their power play, a focus for them this season. Assistant coaches Yogi Svejkovsky and Jay Varady have been implementing new tactics and evaluating personnel for both power play units.

This game against the Islanders, therefore, is not just about the score but an important step towards finalizing the Flyers’ roster and game strategies moving into the regular season.