Flyers face red-hot Canucks for home opener

We are not done going through firsts for the 2023-24 Philadelphia Flyers. They have played just two games so far this season, and yet we feel like everything has been sorted and they are well on their way to certainly being a team that is capable of showing up for 82 games in the regular season. Anything beyond that, well, we have zero clue.

Now, they get to host the Vancouver Canucks to have their home opener in what might not be a very full building because the Phillies are playing Game 2 of the NLCS right across the street (and that is why this game is starting an hour earlier, at 6:00 p.m.).

We do not blame you for even one second if you are going with multiple screens tonight, or even just casually checking in on the score of this Flyers game while watching the Phillies crush some damn dingers. Even an insane score line of 10-1 for the Flyers, or something like that, would not make it worth missing what could be an all-time run for Philadelphia sports.

Oh, and Sean Couturier might be too injured to play again. Cool!

When: 6:00 p.m. ET Where : Wells Fargo Center TV: NBCSP Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Players to watch

Elias Pettersson

Pettersson just keeps on getting better and better. We will NOT mention how the Flyers drafted Nolan Patrick three spots ahead of this guy -- no, we will certainly not do that because that would be hurtful. But almost every single year, Pettersson adds another element and layer to his game. Last season it was getting so good defensively that he could have been a Selke Trophy finalist, and now it is just pure domination in every moment of the game, in all three zones. He already has six points in two games. Like, c\'mon.

Cam York

Cam York is going to be tested big time this season. He has taken complete control of the blue line and even if his ceiling is not a top-pairing defenseman, he is certainly going to be on the Flyers\' top pairing for the time being. While facing some of the Blue Jackets and Senators forwards was a test, potentially being paired up against Pettersson or even Brock Boeser and J.T. Miller at even strength, is going to need a big step up.

Travis Konecny

The story of last season was Travis Konecny reaching a new level of play. While not being in the upper-echelon of forward talent, he is right there on the 1B cusp when it comes to forwards that can control a game. Unsurprisingly, according to Evolving-Hockey, Konecny ranks 12th among all skaters in individual expected goals this season (1.99) and with three already in his pocket, he could look to add even more against a poor Canucks defense.

Projected lineups

Philadelphia Flyers

Joel Farabee — Sean Couturier — Tyson Foerster Scott Laughton — Noah Cates — Travis Konecny Owen Tippett — Morgan Frost — Cam Atkinson Nic Deslauriers — Ryan Poehling — Garnet Hathaway

Cam York — Travis Sanheim Marc Staal — Sean Walker Emil Andrae -- Nick Seeler

Carter Hart Sam Ersson

Note: If Sean Couturier is unavailable, the lines might look something more like this.

Vancouver Canucks

Andrei Kuzmenko -- Elias Pettersson -- Conor Garland Phil Di Giuseppe -- J.T. Miller -- Brock Boeser Dakota Joshua -- Pius Suter -- Anthony Beauvillier Nils Hoglander -- Sam Lafferty -- Jack Studnicka

Quinn Hughes -- Filip Hronek Ian Cole -- Tyler Myers Carson Soucy -- Noah Juulsen

Thatcher Demko Casey DeSmith

Two big questions

Will the Flyers get some offense going against the Canucks blue line?

The Flyers are averaging a just-okay three goals per game through their first two. And while the Columbus and Ottawa defense groups are not elite in any way, the group of blueliners that the Canucks are going to be trotting out tonight is a whole new level of bad. It is essentially Quinn Hughes paired with Filip Hronek and then either a bunch of old and/or slow guys who aren\'t very good.

Luckily, the one thing the Flyers have going for them this season is some depth up front and if they get the right matchup -- like, Owen Tippett and Cam Atkinson in the offensive zone against Noah Juulsen -- then they might be able to run up the score just a little bit. Let\'s get to some stat-padding, boys!

Will Nic Deslauriers drop the gloves?

We\'re always ready to see a little skirmish on the ice but the NHL\'s leader in fights last year has not dropped the gloves this season. Maybe, just maybe, he\'s waiting for the big stage and the bright lights of The Farg to give the home crowd a show. Will he having a dancing partner on this Canucks team? We have no clue.

Talking Points