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They are expecting a physical game from the report below - By inserting Sam Morin for this game (maybe 2 games), AV may be sending an early message this season to the NYI as AV remembers the playoff series. From Eyes on Isles report: Betting Odds The Islanders come into today as the underdogs, courtesy of the Action network. It is no surprise that the Islanders are the underdogs tonight. The Flyers have a lineup with a lot of depth and should be a tougher matchup for the Isles compared to the Capitals. After the past three performances, expect the Islanders to be raring to go tonight and look for Philly to play a fast and physical game. AV meets with the media at 4:45 PM ET. Maybe he will reveal his intent, or more likely he will not.

Jordan Hall wrote this afternoon - Konecny did not have a shot on goal and had two giveaways in 17:33 minutes of the Flyers' 3-1 win Thursday over the Devils. He played only 4:20 in the third period and played around 30 seconds in the final five minutes of the game. After the game, Vigneault was left displeased with and perplexed by the performances of his top two forward lines in the first two periods. Getting Morin a game in a back-to-back set would be one thing, but doing so at the expense of Konecny's spot in the lineup says something. This is the Flyers' first game against the team that eliminated them in a second-round Game 7 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

From Eklund this morning - Hextall, the leading candidate for Penguins GM job Flyers fans...this one might be tough to take, but Hexy may soon be steering the team that is enemy #1. Eklund

It's interesting here at this Flyers HF Board. A mix of: 1) those constantly critical of the Coach, GM, players - - ie: 'we know better' 2) those with calmer patience and deeper understanding You are usually very sharp. A good media quote recently: But the sky isn't falling. They are 3-2-1 and some of Vigneault's best teams didn't figure things out right away, last season included. A reminder: the Flyers started 2-3-1 last season and were average at best in the opening month. The Flyers truly didn't click until January. This season started later and is a shortened, 56-game campaign, but the Delaware Valley should not be pressing the panic button yet. When the season first started with 2 wins, some negative posting prompted a response of patience and time is needed. Then someone posted, if you think this is bad, 'just wait until we have a loss'. After 2 losses - - the sky is falling, the sky is falling! Criticize players. Attack the GM. (We fans know best.) Disappointing. Sad. But, it's the nature of the beast. Lesson for me - - stay out of foolish and stupid controversies — because they will generate quarrels. Learn when a real opportunity to express calmness appears, and then, just speak the realities in patience and understanding. It's interesting to read some of the criticisms here, but those posters do not offer a solution - - just easy attacking a player, Coach, GM in a snap-shot of time. (Not you.) The wise saying: The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

Yup. That was from earlier reports incl Meltzer. 8 Robert Hägg - 39 Nate Prosser As time goes on, things change. It's not about trying to correct people, but about helping all here with the latest info we find. It's a team here. Thx. And, you are a little out of control tonight. This is not like you. Didn't know you were a NJD fan. You feelin okay? Do you need the nurse to come in? All good.

To be clear, all those words were from Eklund, such as: Who wants Letang? What would you give for him? There is no imploration for the Flyers. It's just interesting to see what is happening to a big Division rival.

Interesting - Eklund this morning quoting the radio station in Pittsburgh - Today, according to Colin Dunlap, a morning Sports Host on the Fan 97 in Pittsburgh... “I am told by multiple sources this morning Jim Rutherford was working on a Kris Letang trade to one of the teams he can be traded to. Ownership did not want him doing this. It forced an untenable situation. So here we are.” It is hard to imagine this is the ONLY reason for Rutherford’s sudden departure, but as of now, the lines are blurred... Mario Lemieux, who is very close with Rutherford, was said to be shocked by these developments as well...The Penguins have won 4 straight after dropping the first two games of the season to the Flyers... Who wants Letang? What would you give for him?

9 Ivan Provorov - 53 Shayne Gostisbehere6 Travis Sanheim - 61 Justin Braun8 Robert Hägg - 39 Nate Prosser Scratches: 56 Erik Gustafsson (healthy), 14 Sean Couturier (costochondral separation), Phil Myers (rib fracture), 48 Morgan Frost (IR, dislocated shoulder), 3 Mark Friedman (healthy), 55 Samuel Morin (healthy).

Good news at practice today (Wed 1/27) on Myers -

@pilldoc and all - The AHL Schedule is announced on Jan 25, 2021. The Phantoms will be playing a 38-game season, playing in the newly aligned North Division. The full schedule is below. The Phantoms opener is in 12 days at Hershey. It's close to where I live, and I want to see defencemen Zamula and Wylie, and forwards Allison, Laczynski (when ready), and Sandin in their first NA pro hockey season. But, can't attend because of the pandemic.

SEAN COUTURIER C, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS Sean Couturier (rib) was on the ice Monday with skills coach Angelo Ricci. Couturier feels it was a positive step forward, but he isn't ready to skate with the team yet and he doesn't have a set timetable in mind. He sustained a costochondral separation on Jan. 15 against Pittsburgh and was slated to miss a minimum of two weeks. SOURCE: Sam Carchidi on Twitter Jan 25, 2021, 1:23 PM ET SHAYNE GOSTISBEHERE D, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS Shayne Gostisbehere feels he can play Tuesday night after he practiced on Monday with his teammates. Gostisbehere is glad that COVID didn't hit him too hard and he's thankful that it didn't impact anyone else. Coach Alain Vigneault hasn't ruled out the defenseman yet for Tuesday's match against New Jersey. SOURCE: Jordan Hall on Twitter Jan 25, 2021, 1:06 PM ET NOLAN PATRICK C, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS Nolan Patrick is expected to play Tuesday night after he missed practice on Monday. Patrick received a maintenance day, according to coach Alain Vigneault. He has picked up one goal and three assists in six games this season. SOURCE: Philadelphia Flyers on Twitter Jan 25, 2021, 1:04 PM ET BRIAN ELLIOTT G, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS Brian Elliott will be in goal for Tuesday's game against New Jersey. Elliott posted a 40-save shutout win over Buffalo on Jan. 19 in his previous start this season. In two appearances this year, he has a 1.31 goals-against average and .964 save percentage. "Brian has played extremely well for us and he will again tomorrow," coach Alain Vigneault said following Monday's practice. SOURCE: Philadelphia Flyers on Twitter Jan 25, 2021, 1:00 PM ET

From Jordan Hall this afternoon following the media session with AV: Excerpts: General manager Chuck Fletcher wanted the Flyers to be tougher to play against in 2019-20 and they were. Despite earning at least a point in four of their first five games this season, the Flyers have not looked like the same team that found its identity and surged down the 2019-20 regular-season stretch. There could be various reasons for that. Regardless of those reasons, the Flyers know surrendering the second-most shots per game (37.4) in the league is not going to cut it. "D-zone coverage right now," Vigneault said Saturday morning, "we're not winning enough 1-on-1 battles and not having that close support right there so that it would enable us to get that puck back and go on the attack. "The other area that I feel we need to be stronger at is our forecheck. Our forechecking game, which enabled us to create turnovers, create scoring chances, hasn't been as effective in the offensive zone and in the neutral zone. It's something just minor little stick positioning that I think if we get better at, we'll be way more effective and that's going to help our team." Laughton, one of the club's better forecheckers, agreed with Vigneault. "I think we have to make it harder on teams, we're backchecking too much and putting too much pressure on our goalies and Ds to make plays," he said. "Almost waiting for it to go the other way and create offense that way." Things will turn-around in tonight's Game 6 !!

Ah, the explanation:

Hmm. Since Morin was sent back to the Flyers Taxi Squad yesterday, prompting the speculation that maybe Ghost will taking the vacancy on the 23-player roster, but it is not reflected here. Usually Meltzer is very excellent at being on-top of things. Wonder what is happening? Ah, quick check on the Flyers twitter: Now the thoughts of Marchand's dirty stick-work prompts the thought of Morin somehow in the game tonight (consistent with posts in this thread regarding Flyers team toughness.)

@pilldoc Edit from ~doc (will send you a PM) we try not to reveal too much private info in a public thread

@pilldoc Has your family been to the National Aquarium at Inner Harbor in Baltimore? It's awesome!

@Podein25 Thx. I was defending Manitoba. Had a great friend there in Birch River. She has passed, but her family is there. Your profile says 'Manitoba'. Are you still there? What area?

Superstars?

Uh oh! Now you are in trouble with Podein25.

And, the current Cup winner - TB without Stamkos. Do they have any super stars? Hedman?