Gameday 61 Preview: Flyers vs. Jets

Yahoo

02-03-2025

Philadelphia Flyers forwards Ryan Poehling (25) and Jakob Pelletier (22) share a laugh during practice on Feb. 26, 2025. (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
The Philadelphia Flyers are heading into a battle. Winnipeg has been one of the best teams in the league all season, rolling through opponents with a combination of structured defense, deep scoring, and elite goaltending.
There's no easy path to two points against the Jets. But here's the thing—the Flyers thrive in these kinds of games. They've spent all season proving people wrong, pushing playoff-bound teams to the brink, and playing their best hockey when they're counted out.
After a strong performance against Pittsburgh, the Flyers will need to bring that same energy into Winnipeg. Their best players have been shining, their offensive creativity has been flowing, and they've been playing a style of hockey that suits them. But the Jets aren't going to hand them anything, so the Flyers will have to be at their absolute sharpest if they want to walk away with a win.
1. The Flyers' Top Two Lines Are Rolling—and They Need to Keep It Up
The Flyers have had multiple lines consistently producing offense, but right now, they have two standouts.
The Foerster-Cates-Brink line has found something special, combining high hockey IQ with relentless work ethic. Tyson Foerster has been a beast in puck battles and continues to unleash his dangerous shot whenever he gets the chance. Noah Cates does the dirty work, making smart defensive reads and setting up plays with precision. And Bobby Brink? He's slippery, creative, and has a playmaker's vision that's been on full display lately.
"Seeing the development of these young players is exactly what Philly needs."@Rupper17 and @MarkDParrish take a look at the @NHLFlyers' impressive top line. #LetsGoFlyers | #NHLNow pic.twitter.com/iaTSTAugnd
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) February 27, 2025
Then there's the Tippett-Couturier-Michkov line, which might be the most exciting of the two. Matvei Michkov has been electric, rising to the top of the NHL rookie scoring race while dazzling with his puck skills and offensive instincts. Owen Tippett has been playing some of his best hockey of the season, using his speed to generate scoring chances, and Sean Couturier has been the stabilizing force keeping everything running smoothly.
If the Flyers are going to take down Winnipeg, these two lines need to keep doing exactly what they've been doing: driving play, creating scoring chances, and making life miserable for opposing defenders. The Jets are a tough defensive team, but they haven't had to deal with a Michkov-style wildcard yet. If he and Tippett can push the pace early, they might be able to break through.
2. The Flyers Are at Their Best When They Play Loose and Creative
One of the biggest things that's stood out about the Flyers since coming back from the All-Star break is how much fun they're having. They're playing fast, aggressive hockey, but there's also an element of creativity and freedom to their game that wasn't always there earlier in the season.
It's not just dump-and-chase, grind-it-out hockey anymore. They're making plays. They're setting up passes with patience, looking for trailers, and making the extra move to open up space. They're generating scoring chances off the rush and attacking the net with confidence. There's a flow to their game that makes them unpredictable—and that's when they're at their most dangerous.
Puck don't lie. #PHIvsPIT | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/8C6Uuc6Cpu
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 28, 2025
A team like Winnipeg, which prides itself on structure and disciplined defensive play, doesn't like chaos. They want to control the game, dictate the tempo, and force teams into making safe, predictable plays. If the Flyers get too cautious or play into the Jets' hands by forcing pucks into heavy traffic, they're going to struggle. But if they lean into the free-flowing, instinctive hockey that's been working for them, they might be able to catch Winnipeg off guard.
That means Michkov needs to keep doing his thing, Brink should continue weaving his way through defenders, and Tippett should use his speed to break the Jets' structure. If the Flyers play with confidence and let their creativity shine, they give themselves a real shot.
3. The Jets' Goaltending Is Elite—The Flyers Will Need to Solve It
Now, let's be real: none of this is going to matter if the Flyers can't figure out how to beat Connor Hellebuyck.
The Jets' biggest strength this season has been their goaltending, and Hellebuyck is at the center of it all. He's been a brick wall, posting some of the best numbers in the NHL, stealing games on a regular basis, and making Winnipeg one of the hardest teams to score against.
Hellebuyck isn't just good—he's frustratingly good. He makes the easy saves look effortless, but it's his ability to read plays and position himself perfectly that really sets him apart. He doesn't get rattled by rebounds, and he forces shooters into taking low-percentage shots by cutting off angles. The Flyers can't afford to just throw pucks at the net and hope for the best—they need to be intentional about how they attack him.
The key? Traffic and second-chance opportunities. The Flyers have to get bodies in front of Hellebuyck, take away his eyes, and make life as uncomfortable as possible for him. That means crashing the net, winning those scrappy battles for rebounds, and forcing him into situations where he has to scramble. If they let him see every shot cleanly, they're in for a long night.
It's also going to take patience. The Flyers can't get frustrated if Hellebuyck makes some ridiculous saves—because he will. They just have to stick with their game plan, keep pressing, and wait for their moment.
Philadelphia Flyers
Forwards:
Owen Tippett - Sean Couturier - Matvei Michkov
Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink
Andrei Kuzmenko - Scott Laughton - Travis Konecny
Jakob Pelletier - Ryan Poehling - Nicolas Deslauriers
Defense:
Cam York - Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler - Jamie Drysdale
Egor Zamula - Rasmus Ristolainen
Goalies:
Ivan Fedotov
Sam Ersson
Winnipeg Jets
Forwards:
Kyle Connor - Mark Scheifele - Gabriel Vilardi
Nikolaj Ehlers - Vladislav Namestnikov - Cole Perfetti
Nino Niederreiter - Adam Lowry - Mason Appleton
Alex Iafello - Rasmus Kupari - Morgan Barron
Defense:
Josh Morrissey - Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg - Neal Pionk
Logan Stanley - Colin Miller
Goalies:
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie
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