With Rasmus Ristolainen (lower body) making his season debut Egor Zamula will be the odd man out of the Flyers' lineup Saturday vs. the Islanders. The 23-year-old defensemen has played well in his fourth career NHL season, with a goal, three assists, 16 SOG, 12 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 17 games.

Ristolainen missed the Flyers' first 20 games of the 2023-24 season but has been activated off the injured reserve and will make his season debut vs. the Islanders Saturday. The 29-year-old will replace Egor Zamula and is entering his 11th NHL season after posting three goals and 20 points in 74 games played in 2022-23.

Ersson has backed up the Flyers' crease for the last two games but with Philadelphia on the second half of a back-to-back he will likely start Saturday. The 24-year-old has struggled to duplicate his success from last season with his 3-3-1 record, .863 SV% and 3.22 GAA. He takes on the surprisingly hot New York Islanders, who have won three-straight games but are 29th in the NHL in goals per game (2.68).

Starting goalie Jacob Markstrom will rest on Monday after starting the Flames' last three games, allowing Vladar to emerge as the starter against the Seattle Kraken. Vladar was terrific last season, often outperforming Markstrom, but has had trouble regaining that confidence this season. As a result of his inconsistent play, Vladar has been limited to four games this season (2-1-1), posting an ugly 3.92 GAA and .858 SV%. The Flames last played the Kraken on November 4th, a 6-3 win where Vladar saved 17 of 20 shots (.850 SV%).

Zamula will return to the lineup for the Flyers after being a healthy scratch in their most recent contest. The 22-year-old Russian defenceman is off to a solid start this season, tallying four points (1G / 3A), 12 shots, and a +9 plus/minus rating while averaging 16:19 time-on-ice through 14 games.

Duck coach Greg Cronin announced that Zegras has been dealing with a lower-body issue for some time, which could be part of the reason for his sluggish start to the 2023-24 campaign. The talented forward has seen his ice-time drop nearly a full minute since last season and has only scored two points (1G / 1A) in 12 games thus far. The Ducks have not given an expected timeline on Zegras' return.

Duck coach Greg Cronin announced that Zegras has been dealing with a lower-body issue for some time, which could be part of the reason for his sluggish start to the 2023-24 campaign. The talented forward has seen his ice-time drop nearly a full minute since last season and has only scored two points (1G / 1A) in 12 games thus far.

Carter Hart was originally the confirmed starter for the Flyers on Friday but has since been ruled out of the game due to illness. Ersson has started two of the last three games for the Flyers but has struggled to guide his team to victory. In five games (1-3-1), Ersson has an ugly 3.52 GAA and .830 SV%. The Flyers are slight -110 road favourites against an Anaheim Ducks team that will be without star forward Trevas Zegras.

With Jacob Markstrom out of the lineup, Vladar will start for the fourth time this season. There was some speculation that Dustin Wolf, recalled from the AHL on Thursday, would get the start but the Flames will turn to the more experienced Vladar for the time being. In three games this season (2-1-0), Vladar has a 4.00 GAA and .844 SV%. The Flames are +135 road underdogs on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last season against the Maple Leafs, Vladar allowed five goals on 34 shots in a 5-4 overtime loss.

Couturier will return to the Flyers lineup after missing the last two games with a lower-body injury. He is expected to re-assume his role on the top line and top powerplay as Morgan Frost will serve as a healthy scratch. Couturier has eight points (2G / 6A) while averaging 19:32 time-on-ice through 10 games.

With Carter Hart still out of the lineup and Cal Petersen having a poor performance in his Flyers debut on Saturday, Ersson will man the crease on Tuesday. Ersson's dreadful 3.90 GAA and .815 SV% don't inspire much confidence, but a matchup against the bottom-dwelling San Jose Sharks could be exactly what is needed to turn his season around. The Flyers, who will welcome Sean Couturier back into the lineup, are -186 road favourites against a Sharks team that has been outscored 20-3 in their past two contests.