Lankinen emerged as the Blackhawks No.1 last year, going 17-14-5 with a 3.01 GAA and .909 SV% in 37 starts. With Marc-Andre Fleury now in town, he'll take a back seat for most of the season but will start the front-end of their back-to-back on Friday. Lankinen will see a New Jersey team that will be without Ty Smith, Damon Severson, Miles Wood and Mackenzie Blackwood.
Hart struggled in 2021, going 9-11-5 with a 3.67 GAA and .877 SV%. Still, Hart is just 23-years-old and the future of the Flyers' crease. In the two previous seasons, Hart combined for a .915 SV%, which is more what you should expect from him this season. His first start will come against a Canucks team that lost 3-2 in a shootout in Edmonton on Wednesday.
Ristolainen was acquired from the Sabres this offseason but his Flyers debut will have to wait, as he's sidelined by an upper-body injury. With Ristolainen sidelined, Nick Seeler will skate on the third pairing next to Keith Yandle.
Willman was a fifth-round pick of the Sabres in 2014 and signed with the Flyers in March. The 26-year-old spent last season with Lehigh Valley (AHL), where he had 16 points (9G / 7A) in 30 games. Willman will make his debut on the fourth line with Nate Thompson and Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
McAvoy is in the final year of his three-year, $14.7M deal that he signed in September of 2019. His new deal kicks in next year and carries him through the 2030 campaign and represents a $4.6M AAV raise.
With Mackenzie Blackwood (heel) not available, Bernier will make his Devils debut in their season opener vs. Chicago. Bernier spent the last three seasons in Detroit, where he had a 3.02 GAA and .908 across 94 starts. The Blackhawks lost 4-2 in their season opener in Colorado.
Blackwood continues to rehab his heel injury and is not expected to be available for Friday's game vs. the Blackhawks. With Blackhwood still out, Jonathan Bernier is expected to start with Scott Wedgewood serving as the backup.
Landeskog planted Kirby Dach into the centre ice boards in Wednesday's win over the Blackhawks and will miss Saturday's game vs. St. Louis and Tuesday's game in Washington. He is eligible to play next Thursday in Florida.
Guentzel missed the season opener due to COVID-19 protocol but will play Thursday in Florida. Guentzel will play on the top line with Jeff Carter and Bryan Rust as well as PP1. Guentzel has averaged 39 goals and 43 assists (82 points) per 82 games over the last three seasons.
Pulock is one half of one of the most underrated D-pairings in the NHL. Pulock has an absolutely cannon for a shot but his offensive numbers have been limited by playing a shutdown role next to Adam Pelech. Pulock has averaged nine goals and 27 assists (36 points) per 82 games over the last four seasons.
