HERSHEY – As far as the Flyers’ goaltending situation was concerned last season, the No. 1 position was just fine, with Dan Vladar putting together a performance for the ages.
The backup scenario was a different story.
Samuel Ersson was inconsistent at best.
So the Flyers went out and upgraded the position, securing Joseph Woll from Toronto to be the No. 2 guy.
Philadelphia is hoping Woll can come in and share the demanding workload, which now features a new 84-game schedule.
Woll saw his first action as a Flyer on Monday night when he played the first two periods of a preseason game against the Washington Capitals at the GIANT Center.
The Flyers wound up dropping a 5-2 decision but Woll looked OK in his first action of the season.
Jack Studnicka and Cole Knuble scored for the Flyers. Dylan Strome scored for the Caps late in the second period to break a 2-2 tie.
Woll surrendered two goals in the first period, one on the power play, but tightened things up in the second, holding the Caps to one goal.
Coach Rick Tocchet indicated this was a night where Woll was getting his feet wet with a new team.
“He’s solid,” Tocchet said. “It’s his first game, three days into camp.
“I think we all know that Woll can carry the load. He’s an intelligent goalie. Even the goalie/puck handles, he’s going to help tremendously. With the stuff we do, we’re going to need the goalie to handle the puck a lot. He was fine. He was good tonight. I really wasn’t worried about the score and stuff.”
Ersson might not have excelled in that department.
“We were just OK last year,” the coach said. “That (better outlets) will help us break out the puck better and he can do that other than stop the puck.”
If Woll proves reliable, he might make starting goaltender Vladar’s life a little easier.
“The workload, he can share that load,” Tocchet agreed.
Woll seems to be fitting in rather nicely so far.
“It was a pretty good experience,” Woll said of his first game. “Enjoyed wearing the new colors. Things didn’t go our way but the first of many here. I thought there were a lot of good things that we did.
“I felt good. Just trying to get the feet back under, get the rhythm. My goal is to show them I can be as consistent as I can.”
The Flyers have made it known they like the goalie’s athleticism.
“I think that’s definitely one of my strengths,” he said. “I think my skating, my athletic ability but that’s something I’ve tried to prioritize.”
Flyers director of pro scouting Dave Brown believes that Woll can fill in for Vladar to give the starter a little more rest, especially in the second half of back-to-back games.
Vladar had never played more than 30 NHL games before last season. Then came 52 in 2025-26 and he looked a little tired toward the end of the schedule.
“You might keep an eye on that,” Brown said. “Maybe you do need to monitor that. The Flyers need to have a good No. 2 goalie. I think we got that in Woll. I think he moves well. He’s got good size, I think he competes hard. I believe he will be a good fit.”
Woll sounds like he’s up to the challenge.
Working with goaltending coach Kim Dillabaugh has helped.
“There’s no secret why he’s been here this long,” Woll said. “He’s obviously very knowledgeable in the goaltending position.”
As planned, Carson Bjarnason took over for Woll in the third period.
>Barkey injured
Denver Barkey suffered a lower-body injury late in the first period, came back briefly for the second and then left the game for good. “I don’t know if it’s serious,” was pretty much all Tocchet would say about the situation.
>Knuble in the mix?
Could Knuble be more than a long shot for a roster spot? He’s playing like he could make the team.
“It’s been a great experience,” Knuble said. “I came with a mindset, not just for the experience but to make an impact. I just try to bring compete, good attitude every skate.”
>Foerster sharp
Tocchet likes what he’s seen so far of Tyson Foerster, especially coming off an injury-marred season, which involved surgery to his arm and a long rehab.
“He looks quicker,” Tocchet said. “He looks good. You can tell he put a good summer in and he’s refreshed. It really helps us. He can shoot from anywhere and score. And he’s playing on his off-wing (left side). He penalty kills. We’re trying to work on his power play game.
“Last minute of a game he’s probably out there defending. He’s really a jack of all trades. Consistent.”
>Gard, Powell in action
Coming off strong camps, rookies Matthew Gard and Noah Powell earned spots in the lineup for the Caps game.
“There are instances where (you say) this guy has done his work,” Tocchet said. “I think it’s important that you give that feeling to a player. In general, if you things, you’re going to earn something. I think they’ve earned it.”
>Short shots
The Flyers play game two of their preseason when they visit the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. . . . .Carl Grundstrom and Zach Aston-Reese were the only forwards with real extensive NHL experience in the Flyers lineup. Aston-Reese was signed by the Flyers after playing nine years in the NHL with stops at Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Toronto, Detroit and Columbus. . .Caps’ Andrew Cristall picked up a five-minute major for cross-checking and a game misconduct late in the second period. . .Jonny Brodzinski scored the final two Washington goals in the third period.
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