Tonight the Flyers will get to see one of their most important off-season signings in action for the first time in a meaningful game. Backup goaltender Martin Jones makes his Flyers debut tonight in a pivotal early season game against the Boston Bruins.
Jones struggled his last few season with the San Jose Sharks and is looking to have a bounce back year with the Flyers. Tonight is a perfect opportunity to get this season off to a good start against a good Bruins team.
I think I speak for most of the Flyers fanbase when I say I am a little uneasy about Jones coming into tonight. His play in the preseason wasn’t god awful, but it also didn’t make me have full confidence in him. One of the problems the Flyers had last year was having to rely on their backup Brian Elliott a lot more than they would have liked to.
It’s still very early on in this season as the Flyers have only played two games. The good thing is that other than a miserable second period in Friday’s game against the Canucks, the Flyers have looked like a much better team. Their defensive play has been much improved and the offense seems to really be clicking together. Carter Hart had a great bounce back game on Monday against the Kraken after his second period struggles Friday.
Martin Jones will need to be on his game tonight as the Bruins come into town with their extremely dangerous top line. The dangerous trio of Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak has a great history against the Flyers as they have been dominate. Led by those three the Bruins went 6-1-1 against the Flyers last year including two absolute beatdowns especially in the Lake Tahoe game that we all would love to forget.
Fingers crossed this Flyers team has a much better go around against the Bruins. It should be helpful that Rasmus Ristolainen will also make his debut tonight. Another important off-season addition for the Flyers on the blue line and I think in a game against this Bruins team he could be a major help. Boston plays a physical game and last year they flat out bullied the Flyers. Ristolainen should change that as he plays a very physical game and is willing to stand up for his teammates.
Zack MacEwen will also make his Flyers debut tonight which adds even more of a physical presence to their lineup. It may only be the third game of the season for the Flyers but this is a big early season game to see where this team stands. Hopefully, Martin Jones can be the guy we are looking for as the backup to Carter Hart and can shut the door on the Boston Bruins.
-Walsh
