NHL Player News

Talbot (undisclosed) is likely to back up John Gibson in Buffalo on Friday, per Max Bultman of The Athletic.

Talbot will be a game-time decision after he "tweaked something," per head coach Todd McLellan. Should Talbot not be able to dress, Michal Postava will back up Gibson.

Gibson is slated to guard the road cage in Buffalo on Friday, per Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

Gibson is looking to snap a two-game losing streak. He will make his 10th straight start and is 26-17-3 with four shutouts, a 2.55 GAA and a .906 save percentage across 48 contests in 2025-26. The Sabres are sixth in NHL scoring, averaging 3.47 goals per game.

Haight was reassigned to AHL Iowa on Friday.

Haight has logged just seven NHL games this year in which he has recorded one assist, eight shots and seven hits while averaging 9:59 of ice time. The 21-year-old center has been significantly more productive in the minors this year, generating 23 points in 43 games with Iowa. He'll have a chance to earn a spot on the Opening Night roster heading into the 2026-27 campaign, though he'll have to bring his scoring touch to the NHL level.

Tippett picked up two assists in Thursday's 5-1 win over Chicago.

The 27-year-old winger helped set up tallies by Denver Barkey and Christian Dvorak in the second period as the Flyers broke open the game. Tippett is having a productive March -- he has five goals and eight points over 10 games this month. He needs six more points in Philly's final 11 games to reach 50 for the second time in his career.

Dvorak scored a goal and added an assist in Thursday's 5-1 win over Chicago.

After stealing the puck from Spencer Knight inside the first minute of the first period and feeding Alex Bump for the game's opening tally, Dvorak capped the scoring on the night with 25 seconds left in the second frame. Dvorak has two goals and five points in the last three games, and his top-six placement should keep him productive down the stretch as the Flyers claw for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Cates scored a goal and added an assist in Thursday's 5-1 win over Chicago.

Both points came in the second period as the Flyers put the game away. Cates has been locked in of late, erupting for four goals and six points in the last five games, and Thursday's tally was his 16th of the season, tying his career high. The 27-year-old winger has also reached 40 points for the first time this season, while adding 110 shots on net, 81 hits, 49 blocked shots, 42 PIM and a stunning plus-20 rating in 71 contests.

Ostlund (upper body) is considered a game-time decision for Friday's matchup against the Red Wings, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.

Although head coach Lindy Ruff labeled Ostlund as day-to-day, the 22-year-old participated in Friday's optional morning skate and is considered a possibility to suit up against Detroit after missing Thursday's practice due to an upper-body injury. If Ostlund is unavailable for Friday's game, Tyson Kozak, Josh Dunne and Tanner Pearson are candidates to suit up.

Garand was the first goaltender off the ice at morning practice and is expected to patrol the home crease versus Chicago on Friday, according to Mollie Walker of the New York Post.

The 23-year-old netminder will make his second career start. He turned aside 35 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss to Winnipeg on Sunday. The Blackhawks are 30th in NHL scoring, generating 2.57 goals per game.

Bump produced a goal and an assist in Thursday's 5-1 win over Chicago.

The rookie winger opened the scoring just 48 seconds into the first period after Spencer Knight turned the puck over behind his own net. Bump, a fifth-round pick in 2022, had a breakout season at AHL Lehigh Valley with 11 goals and 26 points in 36 games, and he's carried that momentum with him into his first look at the NHL, collecting three goals and six points in his first 10 games for the Flyers.

Ersson turned aside 25 shots in Thursday's 5-1 win over Chicago.

Connor Bedard spoiled his shutout bid in the second period, but otherwise Ersson was sharp as he won his fourth straight decision since the Olympic break. He remains behind Dan Vladar on the depth chart, but Ersson is doing his best to keep the Flyers in the playoff picture when called upon, posting a dazzling 1.58 GAA and .931 save percentage in five outings during that stretch.