Tonight, the puck drops on the 2026 NHL Preseason.
The Philadelphia Flyers will take on the Washington Capitals in Hershey, PA. For those unfamiliar, the Flyers are the visiting team. The Capitals’ AHL affiliate is the Hershey Bears. Philadelphia and Washington are very familiar with each other throughout the prospect system. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are the constant underdogs when up against the Bears.
However, the Flyers prospects looked terrific in their 2026 NHL Rookie Series with the New York Rangers. Some prospects are still winning over the coaching staff, but Philadelphia was full of life against the Rangers.
Yesterday, the Capitals dropped their first preseason game to the Boston Bruins, 3-2. Ivan Miroshnichenko and Jonny Brodzinski scored, but Logan Thompson couldn’t hold firm in the shootout. Miroshnichenko and Brodzinski will be in the lineup tonight versus the Flyers. Thompson will not.
Joseph Woll will share the crease with Carson Bjarnason. The defensive unit will include David Jiříček, Ty Murchison, Oliver Bonk, Hunter McDonald, and Simon Benoit. Porter Martone, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Cole Knuble, Jett Luchanko, Matthew Gard, and Carl Grundström are the forwards with a spotlight. Murchison, Bonk, Knuble, Luchanko, and Gard are a handful of prospects who looked good during the 2026 NHL Rookie Series, but haven’t made their home on the Flyers’ roster.
When: 7pm/ET
Where: Giant Center; Hershey, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Philadelphia Flyers
Woll was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs with Benoit. Daniel Brière dealt Sam Ersson, Emil Andrae, and a 2026 third-round pick (Juuso Ainasto). He’ll see his first action with Philadelphia. Last season, he finished 15-16-7 with a 3.34GAA and 89.8%SV. Brière bet on the upside of Woll, who needs to bounce back from his farewell to Toronto.
Jiříček is fighting for a huge role with the Flyers. Tonight begins his path to a potential role in Philadelphia, which could ultimately help quarterback a bad power play unit. During the 2026 Rookie Series, the special teams didn’t look special at all. If Jiříček could help contribute to special teams, particularly the power play, then he’ll force some hard decisions as the 2026 NHL Preseason progresses. He is absolutely under a microscope tonight when the Flyers are on the man-advantage.
Luchanko put together a terrific 2026 NHL Rookie Series against the Rangers. He never lost his skating, speed, and playmaking edge. If he can continue to play consistently with a high motor, and even score, then Luchanko will remain on the radar for a recall up to Philadelphia sooner rather than later in the 2026-2027 NHL Regular Season.
Philadelphia Flyers: Game Roster
Forwards: Porter Martone, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Matthew Gard, Jack Studnicka, Garrett Wilson, Noah Powell, Riley Thompson, Cole Knuble, Jett Luchanko, Carl Grundström, Zach Aston-Reese
Defensemen: David Jiříček, Helge Grans, Ty Murchison, Oliver Bonk, Hunter McDonald, Simon Benoit
Goaltenders: Joseph Woll, Carson Bjarnason
Washington Capitals: Game Roster
Forwards: Jonny Brodzinski, Andrew Cristall, Josh Dunne, Ethen Frank, Jordan Kyrou, Ryan Leonard, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Theodor Niederbach, Ludwig Persson, Aliaksei Protas, Ilya Protas, Dylan Strome, Bogdan Trineyev
Defensemen: Ryan Chesley, Martin Fehervary, Justin Holl, Timothy Liljegren, Jacob MacDonald, Jon MacDonald, Dylan McIlrath
Goaltenders: Charlie Lindgren, Clay Stevenson
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