Philadelphia Flyers News
Zamula will return to the lineup for the Flyers after being a healthy scratch in their most recent contest. The 22-year-old Russian defenceman is off to a solid start this season, tallying four points (1G / 3A), 12 shots, and a +9 plus/minus rating while averaging 16:19 time-on-ice through 14 games.
Petersen recorded his first victory in nearly a calendar year, saving 35 of 37 shots (.946 SV%) in a 4-2 victory over his former team, the Los Angeles Kings. Petersen being loaned to Lehigh Valley (AHL) is a likely sign that Carter Hart is on the verge of returning to the Flyers lineup.
Carter Hart was originally the confirmed starter for the Flyers on Friday but has since been ruled out of the game due to illness. Ersson has started two of the last three games for the Flyers but has struggled to guide his team to victory. In five games (1-3-1), Ersson has an ugly 3.52 GAA and .830 SV%. The Flyers are slight -110 road favourites against an Anaheim Ducks team that will be without star forward Trevas Zegras.
Peohling has an assist, 10 SOG, two PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 11 games so far in 2023-24 but will be the odd man out of the Flyers' lineup Friday vs. Anaheim. The 24-year-old centre will give way to Morgan Frost, who has been a healthy scratch for the Flyers previous two games.
Frost was a healthy scratch for the Flyers' loss to San Jose Tuesday but is expected to draw back into the lineup Friday vs. Anaheim after taking line rushes with Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny Thursday. The 24-year-old centre led the Flyers in even-strength points in 2022-23 but has yet to get a point through six games in 2023-24 and has only eight SOG and a +1 plus/minus.
Couturier will return to the Flyers lineup after missing the last two games with a lower-body injury. He is expected to re-assume his role on the top line and top powerplay as Morgan Frost will serve as a healthy scratch. Couturier has eight points (2G / 6A) while averaging 19:32 time-on-ice through 10 games.
Frost has been in and out of the lineup all season as a healthy scratch and will once again watch the game from the press box as Sean Couturier returns from a lower-body injury. Through six games, Frost has zero points, eight shots, and six hits while averaging 15:37 time-on-ice.
With Carter Hart still out of the lineup and Cal Petersen having a poor performance in his Flyers debut on Saturday, Ersson will man the crease on Tuesday. Ersson's dreadful 3.90 GAA and .815 SV% don't inspire much confidence, but a matchup against the bottom-dwelling San Jose Sharks could be exactly what is needed to turn his season around. The Flyers, who will welcome Sean Couturier back into the lineup, are -186 road favourites against a Sharks team that has been outscored 20-3 in their past two contests.
The severity of Carter Hart's mid-body injury isn't fully known but he has officially been ruled out of Friday's matchup against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Ersson to serve as the starting goalie. The Flyers have struggled when Hart has not been between the pipes, as is evident by Ersson's 4.91 GAA and .763 SV% in three games (0-3-0). To boot, the Flyers will be without Sean Couturier and are facing a Buffalo Sabres team that has outscored their opposition 19-11 in their last four games (3-1-0).
Couturier has played all 10 games for the Flyers this season, recording eight points (2G / 6A), but will not play on Friday due to a lower-body injury. Injuries are extra concerning when it comes to Couturier but, fortunately for the Flyers, this does not seem to be related to the back complications that forced him to miss the majority of the previous three seasons. Couturier missed the 2022-23 campaign in its entirety due to injuries and only played 74 combined games in the two seasons prior.
With Carter Hart suffering a mid-body injury in Wednesday's game, Petersen earns the call-up where he'll likely split the Flyers' Friday/Saturday back-to-back with Samuel Ersson. Petersen, who was acquired from the Kings in the offseason, has got 1-3-0 with a 3.76 GAA and .884 SV% in four AHL games this season.