The Surging Flyers are targeting the Panthers, who may be without a top goaltender

The Philadelphia Flyers are playing their best hockey of the season, but a new challenge awaits Thursday when they host the defending champion Florida Panthers.

Philadelphia is 4-0-1 over its last five games with three overtime wins in that span. Rookie winger Matvei Michkov has scored OT goals in both of those victories. The 19-year-old Russian has three OT tallies in his last nine games, including Saturday’s 3-2 win at St.

“We had some confidence (in overtime),” Philadelphia coach John Tortorella said. “Michkov helped us a little bit there. Last year, we struggled with it.”

The Flyers have had a nice break since Saturday’s win, so it remains to be seen if their recent momentum will carry over into Thursday’s contest.

One area that could help against Florida is the possible return of No. 1 goalkeeper Samuel Ersson, who has been out since November 11 with a lower body injury. Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov split time in net in Ersson’s absence with mixed results.

Tortorella is grateful for the opportunity to test his team’s two goalies, but he also wants to continue testing Ersson, who is in his first full season as the team’s main striker.

“All these things with injuries, the goalie, our No. 1 guy gone, it gives us an idea of ​​what we have,” Tortorella said. “And that’s a big part of this year and, to be honest, (of) next year because there are no freebies. We have to continue to evaluate what we have in the organization.”

Florida, of course, knows the value in its leading goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky. However, this Russian couple has been out recently awaiting the birth of their child. He will likely miss Thursday’s contest, which could mean another start for Spencer Knight.

Knight allowed five goals on 16 shots in Tuesday’s overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins that left Panthers coach Paul Maurice with mixed feelings.

“It was fine. I think that’s how we felt about it,” Maurice said. “I don’t think we gave up too much money. I don’t think we used some of the things we normally do. I’m not 100 percent sure how I feel about that.”

After winning their last three games by a combined score of 17-4, the Panthers trailed the Penguins 4-1 with less than 14 minutes remaining. However, Matthew Tkachuk registered a goal and two assists in the third period to help force overtime before his team ultimately fell short.

“I think it’s a point we’re happy to get,” said Tkachuk, who finished with two goals and two assists to surpass 600 points in his career. He now has 603 in his ninth season. “But when we fight, you really want to get that win.”

Joining Tkachuk in the scoring effort was Jesper Boqvist (two assists), while his brother Adam Boqvist was among Florida’s other scorers.

“We just know when we get out there that we can knock teams down,” Adam Boqvist said. “I think we almost showed that tonight in the third period. Just keep going this time.”

The Panthers defeated the Flyers 4-3 in a shootout last month in Florida. The teams will meet again on January 13 in Philadelphia.

–Field Level Media