Lineup Change: Tocchet shakes up Flyers before Canucks

The Flyers just announced that Joseph Woll starts in Vancouver tonight, and Rick Tocchet is reshuffling his blue line and forward group.

The changes come after Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss in Calgary, Philadelphia's third straight defeat, with the heat on the coach rising. The Flyers are 4-10-5 and sit 29th in the NHL.

The Flyers' own lineup post says Woll gets the start, David Jiricek and Michael Bunting draw in, and Simon Benoit and Cole Knuble come out.

On the blue line, Jiricek goes in and Benoit comes out. Jiricek, 22, the sixth overall pick in 2022, has 9 games, no goals, one assist and a -3 this season, while Benoit has one goal and a -4 in 14 games.

Up front, Bunting has no goals and one assist in 8 games with a -5, though he brings 253 career points in 426 games. Knuble, 22, has 3 goals in 9 games and a -6.

Sitting the only one of the group who has found the net is a hard sell. Knuble logged 12:14 in Sunday's loss, and a lineup that has scored just 42 goals all season isn't exactly overflowing with shooters.

Woll takes the net on the second night of the back-to-back, as Joseph Woll's start in Vancouver had been expected. Daniel Vladar made 22 saves on 26 shots in Calgary.

Woll's last five starts are 1-4-0 with a .882 save percentage. He faces Leevi Merilainen, who is also 1-4-0 over his last five with a .848.

Can the Flyers finally win a road game in Vancouver?

If there is a spot on the schedule for it, this is the one. The Canucks are 3-15-1, last in the NHL, and have lost five straight. They are 1-7-0 at home.

The Flyers are 1-6-2 on the road, a problem we flagged in the Flyers' road struggles before Calgary. Their last visit here ended in a 6-3 win on December 30, 2025.

A team that can't beat the worst club in the league on the road has bigger issues than a lineup card. If the Flyers lose tonight, the questions around Tocchet and these choices only get louder.

Quick hits

SAN JOSE SHARKSAiden Celebrini, younger brother of Sharks star Macklin, left Boston University's loss and is uncertain for Tuesday, according to Adam Kblat. Sharks fans will be watching this one closely.

COLORADO AVALANCHECale Makar is on the road with the Avalanche after leaving practice, per Denver Sports 104.3, even as Colorado called up a defenseman. His status is still a cloud over the group.

GOALIE MATCHUPJames Nichols reports the Devils plan to start Jake Allen in Winnipeg. That points to Connor Hellebuyck facing the Capitals twice, which Washington's shooters will not love.

NEW YORK ISLANDERSPete DeBoer says Mathew Barzal, Matias Maccelli and Ryan Pulock could all return during the California road trip. Islanders fans may get help sooner than they expected.

TRADE RUMORDylan Larkin will pass $500,000 in forfeited salary overnight, according to the Winged Wheel Podcast, and the Red Wings still haven't moved him. That standoff keeps getting more expensive.