Photo Credit: Our very own Michael Reaves
Dan Vladar is starting in goal for the Flyers in their 2025-26 season opener tonight against the Florida Panthers.
- Announcement: Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed Vladar as the starter after Thursday’s morning skate in Florida, noting it was a tough decision but based on camp performance, “The best player will start.”
- Context: Vladar, who signed a two-year, $6.7 million deal with the Flyers in July 2025 as a free agent from the Calgary Flames, impressed in preseason with a .933 save percentage in one start and .880 in another. This edges out incumbent Samuel Ersson (last season’s primary starter with a .883 SV%) for the opening-night nod, signaling an open competition in net.
- Game Info: Puck drop is at 7 p.m. ET in Sunrise, FL. It’s a tough matchup—the two-time defending champion Panthers just won 3-2 over the Blackhawks on Tuesday.
- Roster Note: Both Vladar (#80) and Ersson (#33) are on the active 23-man roster, with six Flyers making their team debut this season (including Vladar).
Flyers Lines and Pairs for tonight:
Dvorak – Couturier – Michkov
Tippett – Zegras – Konecny
Foerster – Cates – Brink
Deslauriers – Abols – Hathaway
Seeler – Sanheim
Ginning – Drysdale
Zamula – Juulsen
Vladar
(Ersson)
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