The Philadelphia Flyers are gearing up for a week of crucial matchups as they navigate the second half of the 2025-26 NHL season. Fresh off a 2-0-1 road trip, capped by a dominant 7-3 victory over the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, the Flyers (24-17-9) find themselves back at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, ready to face the New York Islanders.

Key Matchups

Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Islanders (January 26, 7:00 PM EST)

The week kicks off with a Metropolitan Division showdown against the New York Islanders (27-19-5). This game holds significant weight as both teams are vying for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders are coming off a 5-0 shutout loss to the Buffalo Sabres and will be looking to rebound. Meanwhile, the Flyers aim to build on their momentum from the impressive win against Colorado. This is the third of four scheduled games between the Flyers and Islanders this season, with the Flyers having won the previous two matchups.

Storylines to Watch

• Tippett's Hot Streak: Owen Tippett is coming off a hat trick and an assist performance against the Avalanche. His ability to generate offense will be crucial for the Flyers' success.
• Michkov's Impact: Matvei Michkov has been making a significant impact, contributing two goals and an assist in the recent victory. His continued development and offensive spark will be key for the Flyers.
• Ersson in Net: Goaltender Samuel Ersson is looking to maintain consistency after a strong performance against Colorado, where he stopped 32 of 35 shots.
• Home Ice Advantage: The Flyers have a 12-8-5 record at home and will need to capitalize on their home ice advantage against the Islanders.
• Islanders' Response: The Islanders will be seeking to snap out of their recent struggles, having lost to the Seattle Kraken and Buffalo Sabres. Their ability to tighten up defensively and find offensive consistency will be a key storyline.

Injury Report

The Flyers have a few players on the injury list:

• Rasmus Ristolainen: The defenseman is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and is expected to be out until at least January 26.
• Dan Vladar: The goalie is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and is expected to be out until at least January 26.
• Rodrigo Abols: The center is on injured reserve with an ankle injury and is expected to be out until late March.
• Tyson Foerster: The right winger is out for the season with an arm injury.

Keys to Success

For the Flyers, maintaining offensive momentum, solidifying their defensive play, and getting consistent goaltending will be crucial for a successful week. Special teams will also play a significant role, and they will need to capitalize on power play opportunities while minimizing penalties.

The Flyers' next game after the Islanders is currently not known, but will be a road game.