Johansen was not present at practice on Wednesday as he battles an illness and was a game-time decision against the Dallas Stars on Thursday. In Tuesday's 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders, Johansen was held off the scoresheet and recorded a -1 plus/minus rating in 14:11 time-on-ice. He has three points (1G / 2A) in his last three games.
It's the fifth time this season the Canucks have made Kuzmenko a healthy scratch, who has fallen a long way from his 39-goal season a year ago. He has eight goals and 11 assists in 32 games this season.
Deslauriers was a healthy scratch for the Flyers' previous contest but will draw back into the lineup Thursday on the fourth line. The 32-year-old grinding left-winger has yet to score in 2023-24, but has three assists, 34 SOG, 39 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus in 36 games played.
Gardner last appeared in the NHL in 2021-22 with the Dallas Stars and has two points (1G/1A) in 40 career NHL games but will make his Flyers' debut Thursday vs. Columbus. The 27-year-old draws into the lineup as Morgan Frost and Cam Atkinson are surprisingly scratched Thursday.
The Flyers' goaltending carousel continues Thursday as Samuel Ersson will take the crease for the second time in three games after backing up Carter Hart in a Flyers loss last game. The 24-year-old Swedish netminder has performed well in his second career season, with his 9-5-2 record, 2.54 GAA, .902 SV% and two shutouts so far in 2023-24. He hosts the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday, who have lost five of their last six games and are 16th in the NHL in goals per game (3.08).
Johansen was not present at practice on Wednesday as he battles an illness and will be a game-time decision against the Dallas Stars on Thursday. In Tuesday's 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders, Johansen was held off the scoresheet and recorded a -1 plus/minus rating in 14:11 time-on-ice. He has three points (1G / 2A) in his last three games.
It appears Deslauriers will be the odd-man out on Tuesday as the Flyers opt to dress seven defensemen against Connor McDavid and the Oilers. Deslauriers has no goals and three assists in 36 games this season.
Ersson was replaced by Carter Hart in Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks due to dehydration and was a game-time decision on Friday against the Seattle Kraken.
Konecny played only 14:55 on Thursday before leaving the contest due to an illness and was a game-time decision against the Seattle Kraken on Friday. After a cold stretch through most of November, scoring only four points (3G / 1A) in 13 games, Konecny has flipped a switch, scoring 13 points (5G / 8A) in his last 13.
Ersson was replaced by Carter Hart in Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks due to dehydration and will be a game-time decision on Friday against the Seattle Kraken. On the back end of a back-to-back, despite Hart playing a portion of the third period, common logic dictates that Hart will start on Friday regardless of Ersson's ability to suit up.
Konecny played only 14:55 on Thursday before leaving the contest due to an illness and will be a game-time decision against the Seattle Kraken on Friday. After a cold stretch through most of November, scoring only four points (3G / 1A) in 13 games, Konecny has flipped a switch, scoring 13 points (5G / 8A) in his last 13.
On the front end of a back-to-back, the Flyers will turn to Samuel Ersson for the sixth time in the last seven games. Ersson's clutch of the starting position for the Flyers is a result of Hart being unable to play due to various injuries and illnesses over the last month, but he has made the most of his time between the pipes. Ersson has played nine games since mid-November (7-1-1), allowing three or fewer goals in each, posting a stellar .926 SV%. That said, the Flyers will be put to the test as +136 road underdogs on Thursday against a Vancouver Canucks club that was shut out by the Flyers 2-0 in the opening week of the season.
Gardner has yet to appear in an NHL game with the Flyers this season and was sent back to the AHL with the team done their pre-Christmas schedule. The 27-year-old forward has just four points (3G / 1A) in 21 AHL games this season.
The Flyers finished their pre-Christmas schedule on Friday, so they have sent a couple of players back to the AHL. With Carter Hart back healthy, Petersen will likely remain in the AHL once the schedule resumes next week. Petersen has gone 4-6-1 with a 3.20 GAA and .898 SV% in 11 games with Lehigh Valley this season.
Zamula will continue his pattern of playing in every other game as he draws back into the Flyers' lineup Friday in Detroit for Marc Staal. The 23-year-old has taken a step forward with his game in 2023-24, with a goal, three assists, 21 SOG, 14 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus through 23 games played.
Drysdale has not played since October 15th due to a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. Drysdale has struggled to stay healthy during his young NHL career, but the 21-year-old has 42 points (7G / 35A) in 115 career games and has the offensive pedigree that could make him a staple on the powerplay for the Ducks.
Drysdale has not played since October 15th due to a lower-body injury but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. Drysdale has struggled to stay healthy during his young NHL career, but the 21-year-old has 42 points (7G / 35A) in 115 career games and has the offensive pedigree that could make him a staple on the powerplay for the Ducks.
Petersen has been called up again from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL, a semi-regular occurrence over the last month as Carter Hart has battled several injuries and is currently not able to play due to an illness. Petersen has a 3.50 GAA and .896 SV% in two games with the Flyers this season (1-1-0) and will serve as the backup to Samuel Ersson on Thursday.
Marc Staal will draw back into the lineup in favour of Zamula, who has played five of the last six games for the Flyers. Through 23 games this season, Zamula has four points (1G / 3A), 31 blocks, and 10 hits while averaging 15:20 time-on-ice.
