RAV4 Things: Flyers vs. Bruins

Rick Tocchet’s Philadelphia Flyers (26-21-11) are residence on Saturday for a matinee match towards Marco Sturm’s Boston Bruins (33-20-5). It’s the second of three conferences between the groups this season.

Game time at Xfinity Mobile Arena is 3:00 pm EST. The recreation will probably be nationally televised on ABC.

On Thursday in New York, the Flyers overcame a 2-0 deficit to earn a 3-2 time beyond regulation victory towards the New York Rangers. Matvei Michkov paced the win with two targets (14th and fifteenth); a second interval energy play tally and the sport winner after exiting the penalty field in time beyond regulation. Trevor Zegras (twenty first) netted the tying purpose within the opening minute of the third interval.

The Bruins enter this recreation coming off a 4-2 residence win towards the Columbus Blue Jackets, halting the Blue Jackets’ seven-game profitable streak. Joonas Korpisalo made 36 saves on 38 photographs to earn the win, regardless of having quickly left the sport after a second interval collision. Viktor Arvidsson scored twice for Boston. Morgan Geekie and Sean Kuraly notched one purpose apiece.

Here are the RAV4 Things to comply with in Saturday afternoon’s recreation.

1. Followup recreation for Michkov

Having Michkov play constantly properly over the rest of the season is among the most vital big-picture keys for the Flyers. He labored laborious over the Olympic break, and skated with good power each in a 3-1 loss in Washington and Thursday’s 3-2 win over the Rangers.

That’s a constructive for the staff and the participant. Now it must be adopted up transferring ahead. It was an enormous second for Michkov to redeem himself from a protection mistake in Washington and a late regulation goaltender interference penalty towards the Rangers. He ended up with constructive constructing blocks to remove from the primary two video games after the Olympics.

2. The Cates Line

The trio with Michkov and Bobby Brink has been within the thick of a number of scoring possibilities over the past two video games. Specific to Cates, the two-way middle ended an 18-game scoring drought for Philly’s lone purpose towards the Bruins. The following night time in New York, Cates had a really sturdy efficiency: 5 photographs on purpose, an help on Michkov’s first tally, and his traditional stable off-puck play.

It’s no secret that the Flyers want extra manufacturing from any and all of their facilities. Cates has answered the bell thus far after the break.

3. Attention to element

Puck-watching and a protection breakdown have been vital components within the Flyers’ 6-3 loss to the Bruins on January 29. First, the Bruins scored at 9:49 and 10:30 of the primary interval. In the second interval, Boston scored 3 times on 10 photographs.

These lapses pressured the Flyers to chase the sport unsuccessfully. To keep away from an analogous end result on Saturday, the Flyers can not afford such lapses.

4. The Pasta downside

Bruins sniper David Pastrnak stays some of the explosive scorers within the NHL. Over the course of his profession, Pastrnak has taken explicit enjoyment of punishing the Flyers (26 targets and 45 factors in 35 video games). He’s scored extra occasions towards Philly than some other NHL opponent.

In his final recreation, Pastrnak notched his fiftieth help (72nd level) of the 2025-26 season. The Czech celebrity turned the fourth completely different participant in Boston franchise historical past to publish 4 or extra consecutive 50-assist campaigns. The others: Hockey Hall of Famers Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque.

Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Pastrnak additionally has 5 seasons wherein he is notched 40 or extra targets. He’s achieved it in every of the final three years. He’s properly off the tempo to try this once more this season, however he stays lethal as a goal-scorer when he can hearth off one-timers from the circle.