Need to Know: Bruins at Flyers | Preseason

BOSTON –– The Boston Bruins are hitting the road on Thursday for an exhibition matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The 7 p.m. puck drop marks the second time the teams will meet this preseason; it’s the B’s third of four total games ahead of Tuesday’s regular-season opening night at TD Garden.

Boston beat Philadelphia 5-1 on Tuesday. Mikey Eyssimont scored twice, and Morgan Geekie, Brian Halonen and Elias Lindholm also had goals. Thursday’s lineup will have a younger look for the B’s after a veteran-heavy group skated last game.

“Just play hard. We are going to play against a pretty good lineup in Philly tonight,” head coach Marco Sturm said. “That’s a good thing. I just want them to play hard, play like they can, play our style of game and then go from there.”​

Of note, Frederic Brunet will play in his third consecutive contest – the only Bruin to do so this preseason. The 23-year-old defenseman is expected to be on the first pair with Charlie McAvoy, who is in the lineup for his second and final exhibition game. Brunet logged two primary assists against the Flyers earlier this week as he makes a push for a spot on the NHL roster.

James Hagens will also play in Philadelphia. Sturm has been happy with how the B’s seventh overall pick (2025) has come into camp.

“When he came last year, I felt like he was just a little kid. He’s still a kid – he looks like it in the face – but on the ice, it just feels a little bit different. Part of it is he’s more confident out there. He’s not as nervous. Now he knows us, he knows the system, he knows everything, he knows the players, he knows how we have to play,” Sturm said. “He already looks different to me than last season. He’s bigger, stronger.”

The 19-year-old forward has been practicing on a line with Marat Khusnutdinov and Fraser Minten throughout training camp. Neither Khusnutdinov nor Minten are making the trip, though, so Hagens will fill in on the wing with different faces. Sturm said he does not have the official lineup yet, but Hagens could be playing with someone like Dans Locmelis.

“It’s just being prepared. It’s exciting – just going out there, whoever you’re playing with – and being ready to go,” Hagens said. “It has felt great. Whether you’re center or wing, it’s just being prepared and being ready for your assignment. Two different spots on the ice, but when you come back, it’s all kind of relatively the same.”

Wait, There’s More

• Michael DiPietro is expected to start in net for Boston. The 27-year-old goaltender made 30 saves against the Washington Capitals on Sunday in the 3-2 shootout win. DiPietro is coming off another strong season with Providence and the AHL, posting a 1.91 goals-against average and .930 save percentage through 45 games. Jiri Patera will be the backup against the Flyers.

• Attilio Biasca will get more game action with the B’s. The 23-year-old forward signed a two-year contract with Boston in June after competing in the Swiss National League. Biasca is known for his aggressive game, speedy skating and willingness to play the inside and get to the net. He had 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) and a plus-20 rating through 45 games last year with HC Fribourg-Gottéron.

• Jonathan Aspirot is entering his second season with the Bruins after initially signing as a free agent in July 2025 and subsequently agreeing to a two-year contract extension in January. The 27-year-old defenseman had 10 points (three goals, 10 assists) through 61 games while averaging 16:44 of ice time. Aspirot is looking to fill the same role with his dependable, simple style of play.

Opposing View

• Goaltenders Aleksei Kolosov and Joseph Woll are in the lineup for the Flyers. Kolosov got action on Thursday, making 14 saves on 18 shots, after Dan Vladar left the game with an upper-body injury. Vladar did not practice on Thursday, and Philadelphia has listed him as day-to-day. Woll is entering his first season with the Flyers after getting traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs in June.

• The Flyers are rolling out a more veteran roster compared to Tuesday. Trevor Zegras will skate in his first exhibition game of the preseason. The 25-year-old forward had 67 points (26 goals, 41 assists) through 81 games last year. Philadelphia signed Zegras to a four-year contract extension in July.

• Travis Sanheim will be on the backend for Philadelphia. The 30-year-old defenseman led all Flyers blueliners with 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) through 81 games last season. He also led the team in ice time, logging an average of 24:13 nightly.