Flyers vs. Penguins Preview: The Break Arrives

As the 4 Nations Face-off arrives, leaving the NHL with a two-week pause in the regular-season, the Flyers will only have 25 games left in the 2024-25 season when they return. Perhaps more importantly, there will be just six games left until the trade deadline after Saturday’s game.

Saturday will be the first of three meetings between the Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins in February. As the Flyers prepare to welcome two new faces, there is a chance Pittsburgh could be down two superstars.

Game time is 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Andrei Kuzmenko makes his Flyers debut and is immediately placed on a line with Scott Laughton and Travis Konecny. Kuzmenko has four goals and 15 points this season. He had five points, including three goals, in his last five games with Calgary before the trade after going 16 games with just one assist.

With injuries to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Rickard Rakell has kept up his scoring pace. Rakell scored his 25th goal of the season on Friday, and is on a four-game points streak with two goals and three assists. Rakell has points in 13 of the last 16 games.

Sam Ersson gets the start for the Flyers. Ersson was outstanding in his last start, making 39 saves on 42 shots in an overtime loss to Utah. Ersson started on Dec. 23 against the Penguins, allowing five goals on 14 shots before being pulled after the second period.

Joel Blomqvist is expected to get the start for the Penguins. Blomqvist made 21 saves on 25 shots in a loss to the Seattle Kraken in his last start on Jan. 25. Since winning two of his first three games, Blomqvist has lost six of his last seven starts.

Projected Lineups

Flyers Scratches: Ryan Poehling (injury), Egor Zamula (injury), Owen Tippett (injury), Rasmus Ristolainen (injury), Jakob Pelletier (healthy), Aleksei Kolosov (healthy)

Penguins Scratches: Sidney Crosby (injury), Evgeni Malkin (injury), Ryan Shea (healthy), Matt Nieto (healthy)

Lineup Notes

• Flyers: Andrei Kuzmenko makes his Flyers debut. Jakob Pelletier is still not available due to paperwork. Jacob Gaucher will be recalled after being sent down to the Phantoms on Friday. Rasmus Ristolainen is a game-time decision. Anthony Richard was placed on waivers on Friday for the purpose of going to the minors. Ryan Poehling skated on Friday but will not play. Owen Tippett and Egor Zamula also remain out with injury.
• Penguins: Sidney Crosby participated in an optional morning skate on Saturday morning and could be back in the lineup. Bokondji Imama is questionable to play after suffering an injury on Friday.

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (15.9% – 28th), Penguins (25.2% – 6th)
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (78.2% – 19th), Penguins (79.5% – T-16th)
• Recent History vs. Penguins 
  • Dec. 23, 2024 – Penguins 7, Flyers 3 (at PIT)
• Team Leaders vs. Penguins
  • Tyson Foerster – 6 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 6 P
  • Travis Konecny – 30 GP, 11 G, 14 A, 25 P
  • Noah Cates – 6 GP, 3 G, 2 A, 5 P
  • Sam Ersson – 3 GP, 1-2-0, 4.06 GAA, .855 SV%
• Milestone Watch
  • Sean Couturier needs one goal to reach 200 for his career.

Where to Watch

• TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
• Radio: Flyers Broadcast Network