Something’s strange about the Philadelphia Flyers (4-8-4).
What’s strange has nothing to do with their struggles. Those are pretty straightforward. It was an effort and an unwillingness to compete for puck possession that made the Flyers the butt of every joke in the NHL.
It’s nothing said to the media, like when Sean Couturier described team play as ‘soft.’ That could be considered alarming, but not strange, especially if you consider the eye test.
The strange thing I noticed about Philadelphia is a positive. It has to do with winning. The Flyers have four wins in the 2026-2027 NHL Season. Of those wins, 75% are against teams ranked in or fringing on the top 10 of the NHL Standings.
Tonight, Xfinity Mobile Arena will host the Minnesota Wild (10-3-3). They’re a top-five team in the NHL. Philadelphia is looking for its first win against a top-five-ranked opponent. They’re 0-2-1 against teams that fit the criteria. Last season, the Flyers swept the Wild, 2-0-0, securing overtime and shootout wins.
Tale of the Tape
- Power Play
- Minnesota Wild: 26.8% (8th)
- Philadelphia Flyers: 15.7% (27th)
- Penalty Kill
- Minnesota Wild: 81.3% (13th)
- Philadelphia Flyers: 80% (14th)
- Faceoff Efficiency
- Minnesota Wild: 48.9% (20th)
- Philadelphia Flyers: 50.7% (13th)
- Goals For/Games Played
- Minnesota Wild: 3.25 (15th)
- Philadelphia Flyers: 2.19 (Last)
- Goals Against/Games Played
- Minnesota Wild: 2.25 (3rd)
- Philadelphia Flyers: 3.31 (21st)
Injury Report: Minnesota Wild
- Brock Faber (skull; day-to-day)
- Marcus Foligno (lower body; day-to-day)
- Nick Foligno (upper body; day-to-day)
- Jared Spurgeon (lower body; day-to-day)
- Filip Gustavsson (hip; week-to-week)
Injury Report: Philadelphia Flyers
- Rasmus Ristolainen (hand; day-to-day)
- Nikita Grebenkin (back; month-to-month)
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena; Philadelphia, PA
When: 7:00pm/ET
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Last Game MIN: 11/1/2026; at Washington Capitals; 5-1 W
Last Game PHI: 11/1/2026; vs. Utah Mammoth; 6-3 W
Minnesota Wild
Jesper Wallstedt (9-2-3, 2.06GAA, 92%SV) is the probable starter for Minnesota. In his last five games, Wallstedt has been dialed in. He’s allowed two or less goals in four out of his last five starts. The New York Islanders found a way to score four times. Philadelphia must generate rebounds and convert on the power play, working as the more opportunisitic attack, to beat Wallstedt.
Matt Boldy (6G, 8A, +12, 15PIM, 68SOG, 12BLK, 14HIT, 21:40ATOI) is on a five-game points streak. The Flyers should already be on high alert when Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov are on the ice; however, they’re in lock step. Boldy and Kaprizov are essentially synonymous when discussing the Wild and scoring.
Quinn Hughes (5G, 16A, +8, 2PIM, 47SOG, 11BLK, 4HIT, 27:44ATOI) is tallying points at a higher rate than Boldy over the last five games, also riding a five-game points streak. If Philadelphia isn’t tight and disciplined in their defensive structure, then it’ll be a long night at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Philadelphia Flyers
Dan Vladař (3-3-2, 3.23GAA, 88.5%SV) will start. He’s secured two wins against teams who are on the fringe of the top 10 in the NHL, including the most recent against the Utah Mammoth. Last season, he earned each win against Minnesota.
Sean Couturier (1G, 4A, -3, 8PIM, 19SOG, 3BLK, 26HIT, 16:46ATOI) is getting a lot more ice time because the Flyers are committing penalties. He, Noah Cates, and Christian Dvorak have helped out greatly in establishing a credible penalty kill against good power play units. The key will be not committing the penalties in the first place. If Philadelphia commits three minor penalties against the Wild, there’s a high probability one of those will come back to haunt. If the Flyers commit four minor penalties against Minnesota, you could practically guarantee a power play receipt.
Nick Seeler (4A, +1, 8PIM, 11SOG, 35BLK, 23HIT, 19:11ATOI) joined Couturier in having choice comments about team play after losing to the Washington Capitals. Neither were wrong. Those comments were more about missed assignments and an overall lack of compete instead of pointing a finger at someone. Then, Philadelphia returned with some juice, defeating the Mammoth, who are on the fringe of the top 10 teams in the NHL.
Projected Lineup: Minnesota Wild
Kirill Kaprizov – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy
Blake Coleman – Michael McCarron – Bobby Brink
Maxim Shabanov – Danila Yurov – Yakov Trenin
Nico Sturm – Ryan Hartman – Tyler Pitlick
Quinn Hughes – Jonas Brodin
Olli Määttä – Zach Bogosian
Matt Kiersted – David Špaček
Jesper Wallstedt
(Calvin Pickard)
Projected Lineup: Philadelphia Flyers
Trevor Zegras – Christian Dvorak – Travis Konecny
Tyson Foerster – Denver Barkey – Owen Tippett
Porter Martone – Noah Cates – Matvei Michkov
Cole Knuble – Sean Couturier – Noel Acciari
Travis Sanheim – Jamie Drysdale
Cam York – Oliver Bonk
Nick Seeler – Simon Benoit
Dan Vladař
(Joseph Woll)
FLYERS ALUMNI VEGAS AND IRELAND TRIPS
Flyers Nation and TrueFan Travel have teamed up for two trips with the Flyers Alumni!
The Las Vegas package (March 10–14) includes tickets to Flyers–Golden Knights on March 11 at T-Mobile Arena, an all-inclusive tailgate, optional flights from Philadelphia, a 4-night downtown hotel stay, an alumni pep rally and Q&A, a Flyers vs. Utah watch party, and a meet and greet.
The Ireland Golf & Tour Experience (July 20–27) includes optional flights from Philadelphia, six nights at The Brehon Killarney and Portmarnock Resort, a welcome reception, a meet and greet and Q&A with Brad Marsh, Patrick Sharp, Joe Watson, Bill Clement, Mark Recchi, and John LeClair, a live Coatesy’s Corner, and optional golf at Old Head, Dooks, Portmarnock, and Druids Glen.
Whether you’re chasing a road game in Vegas or a week on the links in Ireland, these are two chances to travel with Flyers legends!
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