The final home game of the season always feels a little different. The air inside the Wells Fargo Center carries a mix of reflection and fire—there's pride in the journey that's already unfolded and urgency in the battles still ahead. And tonight, as the Philadelphia Flyers take the ice for their last stand in South Philly this season, they'll face a desperate Columbus Blue Jackets squad clinging to their playoff hopes with white knuckles.
While the Flyers are mathematically out of the race, this isn't a team that will play like they're down for the count. As interim head coach Brad Shaw made clear, the goal now is simple: play spoiler. Disrupt the narrative. Make someone else's life just a little bit harder. And there's a certain kind of joy—and dignity—that comes with doing that well.
The Spoiler Mentality is Real—and This is the Stage for It. In a season marked by relentless work ethic and a team-first mentality, the Flyers now find themselves in the unfamiliar but oddly energizing position of spoiler. Brad Shaw didn’t mince words when he laid out what he wants from the group in these final games: make it count, and make it difficult—for everyone still hanging onto playoff hopes by a thread. Shaw said that being able “to take the life out of a building” is a fun thing to do in hockey, and he fully believes his team can get those kinds of results.
This Blue Jackets team is scrappy, youthful, and fueled by urgency. With their own playoff lives hanging in the balance, they’ll come out hard. And the Flyers know it. That desperation can be dangerous, but it can also lead to mistakes—especially when pressed. If the Flyers can keep their poise and execute with pace and structure, there will be opportunities to capitalize. This is where Philly’s grit becomes its greatest asset. They’ve never needed an external reason to dig deep. Whether it’s protecting a lead, defending a teammate, or trying to flip a game on its head in the third period, this group shows up. Now, with no more home games after this one, they’ll want to give the fans one last performance to roar about—and maybe deal a serious blow to a rival’s postseason dream in the process.
Keep the Offense Rolling, But Stay Out of the Box. The Flyers’ offensive lines have found a groove in recent games, blending high-end individual plays with cohesive puck movement that wears down opponents. The Foerster-Cates-Brink line continues to generate with speed and vision, while Michkov-Couturier-Konecny is a nightmare for defenders trying to guess which direction the next attack is coming from. The creativity and chemistry have been evident—and fun to watch.
Against the Islanders, it wasn’t just about putting the puck in the net; it was about generating relentless pressure. Even when they weren’t scoring, the Flyers controlled pace and territory. That’s exactly the kind of hockey they’ll need against Columbus. A fast start will be crucial to preventing the Blue Jackets from settling into any rhythm. But as much as the Flyers want to play with intensity, they’ll need to be careful not to toe over the line. Columbus has a power play that can burn you, and in games like this—where stakes are high and tempers can flare—penalties become emotional landmines. Discipline will matter.
The Flyers were excellent at staying out of the box in their shootout win over the Islanders, and they’ll want to replicate that structure tonight. Keep the game five-on-five, and trust the depth and pace of your lineup to wear the opponent down.
Sam Ersson Starts—and He’s Riding a Wave of Confidence. There’s something about the way Sam Ersson carries himself in net that tells you the moment’s never too big for him. And against the Islanders, he reminded everyone just how crucial he is. In a tightly-contested game that needed him to be sharp—especially in the shootout—Ersson delivered, flashing his pads and smothering chances with calm authority. He’ll start again tonight, and there’s every reason to believe he’ll be dialed in.
There’s a fire under him now, not just from the pressure of the moment, but from the pride he clearly takes in being counted on. Goaltending can tilt games, and this is the type of matchup where Ersson could be the difference between a quiet home finale and a raucous one. Expect him to see traffic early, as Columbus will likely try to crash the crease and test him physically. But if he holds steady—and he has every tool to do just that—it’ll give the Flyers a foundation to build from.
His ability to control rebounds, manage the puck behind the net, and read the game has grown throughout the season. And while the Flyers may not be headed for the playoffs, these final games are still massive for Ersson’s development and confidence heading into next year. He’s not just auditioning for a job anymore. He’s proving he’s already got one.
Final Thoughts. The last home game of the season isn’t just a formality—it’s a celebration, a chance for fans to show their appreciation and for the team to give something back one more time. Win or lose, this team has fought tooth and nail all season, outpacing every expectation and making South Philly proud in the process. Tonight’s game is a chance to write one more chapter. To give the Blue Jackets hell. To give the fans a reason to stand and cheer. And to send a message: that the Flyers may be out of the playoff picture this year—but they’re building something strong, and they’re not going anywhere. Bring the noise. Bring the fire. One last time at the Farg.
Projected Lines:
Philadelphia Flyers Forwards: Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink
Travis Konecny - Sean Couturier - Matvei Michkov
Jakob Pelletier - Ryan Poehling - Owen Tippett
Nicolas Deslauriers - Karsen Dorwart - Garnet Hathaway
Defense: Nick Seeler - Travis Sanheim
Cam York - Jamie Drysdale
Egor Zamula - Emil Andrae
Goalies: Samuel Ersson
Ivan Fedotov
Columbus Blue Jackets Forwards: Boone Jenner - Sean Monahan - Kirill Marchenko
James van Riemsdyk - Adam Fantilli - Kent Johnson
Dmitri Voronkov - Cole Sillinger - Mathieu Olivier
Zach Aston-Reese - Sean Kuraly - Justin Danforth
Defense: Zach Werenski - Dante Fabbro
Denton Mateychuk - Ivan Provorov
Jordan Harris - Erik Gudbranson
Goalies: Jet Greaves
Daniil Tarasov
