At a Glance
- Flyers No. 1 goalie Dan Vladar will miss Saturday’s game vs. the Rangers
- Vladar exited after the first period of Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to Buffalo
- Coach Rick Tocchet will name either Samuel Ersson or Aleksei Kolosov the starter at 10:30 a.m. ET
- Why it matters: Philadelphia is mired in a five-game slide and has been outscored 25-9 during the skid
The Philadelphia Flyers will be without their top goaltender when they try to halt a season-worst losing streak Saturday afternoon.
Dan Vladar, who left Wednesday’s 5-2 defeat to the Sabres after the opening period, is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, according to a source. He will not dress for the 1 p.m. ET matinee against the New York Rangers at Wells Fargo Center.
Vladar’s Strong Season on Pause
The 28-year-old Czech has been the backbone of the Flyers’ season, posting career-best numbers in his first year with the club:
- 2.46 goals-against average
- .905 save percentage
- 16 wins in 28 appearances
All three figures are personal highs for Vladar, signed as a free agent last summer.
Backup Options for Saturday
Head coach Rick Tocchet is expected to reveal his starting goalie at his 10:30 a.m. pregame media availability. The decision comes down to two candidates:
- Samuel Ersson – started Thursday’s 6-3 loss in Pittsburgh
- Aleksei Kolosov – replaced Ersson early in the second period of that same game
Neither netminder could slow the Penguins, who chased Ersson after two goals and added four more against Kolosov.
Slipping in the Standings
Philadelphia carries a five-game losing streak (0-4-1) into the weekend. The skid has seen the club:
- Surrender 25 goals
- Score only 9 goals
- Fall further behind in the wild-card race
The Rangers, meanwhile, arrive in Philadelphia looking to extend the Flyers’ misery and strengthen their own playoff positioning.
What’s Next
Puck drop is set for 1 p.m. ET with television coverage on NBC Sports Philadelphia. The Flyers hope a fresh face in net can spark a much-needed victory before the schedule tightens further.
