The Game: 7:00 p.m. on NBCSports Philadelphia
Can you call it a homecoming, if you were never really home to begin with? That’s the underlying premise of today’s game, as the Flyers welcome the Anaheim Ducks and, with them, Cutter Gauthier, who never suited up for the Flyers. Though Gauthier never actually played a game in Philadelphia, he certainly left a lasting impression, one that the Philly faithful will surely remind him of today.
Anyway, that’s enough about the prospect who spurned the Flyers, because the Flyers have bigger problems right now: a four game losing streak and goaltending so bad there’s speculation the Flyers may try and pilfer another Duck. The Flyers are coming off their worst loss of the season against the Dallas Stars–not because of the box score, but because they played downright awful hockey. As a result, Olle Lycksell draws into the lineup, and Joel Farabee sits, thus ending the longest active iron man streak on the Flyers.
John Tortorella on taking Joel Farabee out of the lineup: https://t.co/TTNuz5Lybe pic.twitter.com/qheyJxwy3j
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) January 11, 2025
Tonight’s game against Anaheim has to be the time the Flyers get right, because next week is no picnic and could easily extend the losing streak as they face the defending champs (Panthers), a surging Blue Jackets club, the Islanders in a game that one team will try to win 0-0, and a Devils team sitting comfortably in a Metropolitan playoff spot. Philly needs a win, and the good news is that they should be able to get one because the Ducks stin-
What’s that? The Ducks are ahead of the Flyers in points percentage?? Say it ain’t so!
No matter. On paper, the Flyers should be able to trounce this club, as they did a few weeks ago. As long as everybody plays at the level expected of them, that is. That shouldn’t be a problem…right? Right!?
Storylines to Follow
Joel Farabee sits, Olle Lycksell is in
Farabee’s been all up and down the lineup for months now, and lately he’s found himself on the “fourth” line. Earlier this week, against the Leafs, he embraced the role, too.
Dewar vs. Farabee pic.twitter.com/GWLWqvTiwF
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) January 8, 2025
The reasons Farabee gave for dropping the gloves were sound (the building was quiet, he wanted to spark something, etc. etc.), but that is not the expectations we’ve set for him. He should be using those hands to score goals, not to mash faces.
It’s a bit of a chicken/egg scenario: is Farabee thinking/acting like a bottom-sixer because that’s the role he’s been assigned, or has he been assigned that role because he’s thinking/acting like a bottom-sixer? We’ll have to wait for an answer until he’s back in the lineup.
For Lycksell, this is another opportunity to establish himself in the NHL. The 25-year old’s in the last year of his contract and, while he’s been named to the AHL All-Star team, he has yet to carve out a role for himself on the Flyers. Part of that is lineup congestion, but in 27 career NHL games, he has just one goal and five assists, which doesn’t scream “bonafide NHLer” at his age. Despite their recent hot stretch, the Ducks are still a weak team, and Lycksell should be able to generate some prime scoring chances in a depth role.
The Michkov slump continues
A goal and an assist–two points–in 13 games, and those both happened in the same game. Not fun! Should we be worried? Probably not, and expecting Michkov to be a point-per-game player as a rookie would’ve been unfair. Still, outside Travis Konecny, Michkov is the best offensive engine this team has, and he bears some of the team’s scoring troubles on the whole. A power play goal off a feed from Jamie Drysdale would be poetic justice, because…
Must we talk about Cutter Gauthier?
While I don’t think there’s a contractual obligation here at BSH to write about Gauthier, it’s a storyline that’s impossible to ignore. Just over a year ago, the Flyers traded Gauthier to the Ducks for Jamie Drysdale and a 2nd-round pick after Gauthier refused to sign an ELC with the Flyers for…reasons. After making comments prior to the Dec. 28 Flyers and Ducks game that he had “circled” the day on his calendar, Gauthier & co. lost 3-1. On the television broadcast, you could hear boos every time he touched the puck–in his team’s own arena!–as well as Flyers chants.
Now, he comes to Philadelphia, and prior to tonight’s game, Gauthier told The Athletic‘s Kevin Kurz, “I just wish they knew the truth.” Here’s the thing, kid: if you did tell the truth, and the Flyers were in the wrong? This fanbase would, without a doubt, be in your corner and would criticize this front office to no end. Instead, we get opaque comments and braggadocio without the play to back it up.
The Flyers have been promoting this matchup since before the season started, and this game between two mediocre rebuilding clubs has become must-watch television and is bordering on a sellout. If the Flyers Faithful were willing to journey to California to air their grievances, you can bet tonight’s game is going to be rocking.
Projected Lineups
Philadelphia Flyers
Tyson Foerster – Noah Cates – Bobby Brink
Owen Tippett – Morgan Frost – Travis Konecny
Scott Laughton – Ryan Poehling – Matvei Michkov
Olle Lycksell – Sean Couturier – Garnet Hathaway
Cam York – Travis Sanheim
Egor Zamula – Rasmus Ristolainen
Nick Seeler – Jamie Drysdale
Sam Ersson
(Ivan Fedotov)
Anaheim Ducks
Frank Vatrano – Ryan Strome – Sam Colangelo
Cutter Gauthier – Mason McTavish – Robby Fabbri
Isac Lundestrom – Leo Carlsson – Alex Killorn
Nikita Nesternko – Jansen Harkins – Brett Leason
Jackson LaCombe – Radko Gudas
Brian Dumoulin – Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov – Drew Helleson
Lukas Dostal
(John Gibson)
Gameday Tunes
This one doesn’t really need an explanation.
Stats courtesy Hockey Reference
