Vladar has not played since January 20th, serving as a backup to Jacob Markstrom, but will be out of the lineup for at least a week after being placed on IR with a lower-body injury on Friday. The Flames have recalled Dustin Wolf from the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) to replace Vladar, who owns an ugly 3.27 GAA and .888 SV% in 16 games (7-7-2).
Elliotte Friedman put any trade speculation to rest when he reported Ristolainen is in fact out with an illness, and is not a healthy scratch on Thursday. Marc Staal is expected to draw into the lineup in his place.
Richard played 13 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season but has spent the majority of his career playing in the AHL. In 41 games with the Providence Bruins this season, the 27-year-old Richard has 37 points (18G / 19A).
Erson was tremendous in the Flyers' first game back from the All-Star break and will return to the crease on Thursday. On Tuesday, Ersson saved 20 of 21 shots (.952 SV%) in an impressive 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers, snapping a five-game losing streak for Ersson and the Flyers. That said, the Flyers are +120 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets team outscored 12-3 over their past four games (0-3-1).
Ersson will get the nod for the fifth consecutive game on Tuesday when the Flyers travel to Sunrise. The 24-year-old netminder has struggled of late, going winless in his last five appearances and posting an .826 SV% over that span. On the bright side, those struggles came on the heels of what had been the most successful stretch of Ersson's young career, as he posted an 11-2-2 record and a .931 SV% across his previous 15 games. The Flyers will need him to regain some of that form in Florida on Tuesday where they find themselves as +170 underdogs.
Tippett has been out since January 20th due to a lower-body injury but was activated off the Injured Reserve Tuesday and is expected to return to his top-six role. The 24-year-old is enjoying somewhat of a breakout season which led to a big contract extension this season with 18 goals, 30 points, 167 SOG, two PIMs, and a -3 plus/minus in 46 games played.
Gilbert will join Matt Coronato and Cole Schwindt as healthy scratches for the Flames on Tuesday. Before the All-Star break, Gilbert played three of the last four games for the Flames, recording a -2 plus/minus, one shot, and four hits.
Tippett has become one of the main offensive cogs in Philadelphia and has been rewarded with an eight-year, $49.6 million contract extension. The 24-year-old broke out last season with 49 points (27G / 22A) in 77 games and, despite currently being on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, is producing at a higher pace this season with 30 points (18G / 12A) in 46 games. This season, Tippett has established himself as a skilled power-forward, evident by his 168 shots on goals and 68 hits.
Ristolainen appears to be a healthy scratch as he was on the ice for warmups but did not participate in line rushes. Ristolainen has a goal and three assists in 28 games this season.
Deslauriers will take spot of Rasmus Ristolainen as the Flyers opt to go back to dressing just six defensemen on Thursday. Deslauriers has no goals and three assists in 43 games this season.
Ersson will start for the third straight game on Thursday and will likely continue to see the majority of action between the pipes for the Flyers, with Carter Hart away from the team on an indefinite leave of absence. Despite a solid season for the 24-year-old Ersson, he has allowed four goals in two straight (0-2-0), posting an ugly .846 SV%. The Flyers are +109 road underdogs against a Detroit Red Wings club with only two regulation losses in their last 10 games (7-2-1).
Tippett left the Flyers' game on Saturday vs. Colorado due to a lower-body injury and has officially been placed on the Injured Reserve Tuesday. It is a massive loss for the Flyers as the 24-year-old was leading the Flyers in SOG (167), was second in goals (18) and third in points (30).
Deslauriers played 5:10 time-on-ice in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators, recording four hits. Deslauriers ranks second in the league with 136 penalty minutes, only trailing Minnesota's Pat Maroon.
Ersson has quietly become the go-to option between the pipes for the Flyers and will start for the third time in their last four games. Ersson allowed four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) in his last outing, a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators, the first time he has allowed more than three goals since October, a span in which he has posted a tremendous .927 SV% in 19 games (12-4-2). The Flyers are slight -102 home underdogs on Tuesday against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that is 7-3-0 in their last 10.
Brink was a healthy scratch for the Flyers' previous three games and will head to Lehigh Valley (AHL) on loan so that he can continue to get some playing time. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a solid rookie campaign with Philadelphia in 2023-24, with seven goals, 18 point, 55 SOG and a +7 plus/minus in 38 games played prior to being sent down.
Deslauriers will get the chance to play on Sunday in place of the injured Owen Tippett (lower-body). Deslauriers is yet to register a goal and has just three assists in 42 games this season.
Ersson gave up on goal on nine shots after replacing Carter Hart in the Flyers loss to the Avalanche on Saturday. With each passing game, Ersson is looking more and more like the Flyers’ best option between the pipes. After a bad start to the season, Ersson has gone 12-3-2 with a .930 SV% and three shutouts in his last 18 appearances.
