Flyers

Flyers vs. Oilers Preview: Golden Boy

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Kevin Durso
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Kevin Durso Sports Editor

I have been writing for Sports Talk Philly since 2011. Currently editor and lead writer of Philadelphia Flyers coverage. Co-host of the YWT Podcast. I also am Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN-FM in South Jersey. I graduated from Cabrini University in 2014.

All posts by Kevin Durso
Sports Editor

Published22 Feb 2025

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The Flyers return to action following the break for the 4 Nations Face-off with two players having received gold medals with Team Canada. But Canada’s new golden boy is on the other side of their first matchup out of the break.

Connor McDavid, who scored the overtime winner in Thursday’s 4 Nations championship game, and the Edmonton Oilers open up the final 25 games of the regular season for the Flyers on Saturday afternoon.

Game time is 1 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Edmonton Oilers GP G A P
Travis Konecny 57 22 39 61 Leon Draisaitl 55 40 43 83
Matvei Michkov 55 16 20 36 Connor McDavid 49 22 49 71
Owen Tippett 52 14 16 30 Evan Bouchard 55 9 35 44
Travis Sanheim 57 6 21 27 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 54 15 20 35
Scott Laughton 54 11 15 26 Zach Hyman 50 19 13 32

Flyers Oilers Players to Watch

Travis Sanheim returns from 4 Nations with a gold medal and three successful games in the lineup, picking up one assist along the way. Prior to the break, Sanheim had points in three straight games.

Thursday night’s hero, Connor McDavid, looks to take some of the overtime magic from 4 Nations into the start of the second half of the season. McDavid has points in eight of his last 10 games, scoring six goals and adding seven assists.

Flyers Oilers Goalie Matchup

Sam Ersson is expected to get the start for the Flyers. Ersson made 31 saves on 33 shots in his last start against Pittsburgh on Feb. 8. He also made 32 saves on 33 shots in a win for Team Sweden over Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-off on Monday.

Stuart Skinner gets the start for the Oilers. Skinner allowed three goals on 12 shots in his last start on Feb. 7 against Colorado before being pulled after the first period. He has won two of his last six starts.

Projected Lineups

Flyers Lines

Flyers Scratches: Erik Johnson (healthy), Nic Deslauriers (healthy), Aleksei Kolosov (healthy)

Oilers Lines

Oilers Scratches: Evander Kane (injury), Alec Regula (injury), Troy Stecher (healthy), Kasperi Kapanen (healthy)

Lineup Notes

  • Flyers: The Flyers are expected to get several players back from injury. Ryan Poehling missed 11 games, Egor Zamula missed eight games, Owen Tippett missed five games, and Rasmus Ristolainen missed three. All four are available to play on Saturday. Jakob Pelletier is also expected to make his Flyers debut.
  • Oilers: Matt Savoie will make his NHL debut. No other changes are expected to the lineup.

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (15.8% – 28th), Oilers (25.0% – 6th)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (78.5% – 18th), Oilers (75.6% – 23th)
  • Recent History vs. Oilers 
    • Oct. 15, 2024 – Oilers 4, Flyers 3 (F/OT) (at PIT)
  • Team Leaders vs. Oilers
    • Matvei Michkov – 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 2 P
    • Owen Tippett – 6 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 P
    • Andrei Kuzmenko – 9 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 P
    • Sam Ersson – 1 GP, 0-0-1, 3.94 GAA, .871 SV%
  • Milestone Watch
    • Sean Couturier needs one goal to reach 200 for his career.

Where to Watch

  • TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
  • Radio: Flyers Broadcast Network