St. Louis Blues at Philadelphia Flyers Preview for November 20, 2025

The St. Louis Blues visit the Philadelphia Flyers on November 20, 2025, in a Metropolitan Division clash that carries significant storylines for both clubs. Philadelphia hosts its annual Hockey Fights Cancer night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, while St. Louis gets a much-needed offensive boost with the return of leading goal-scorer Jake Neighbours. The Blues enter with a 6-9-5 record, having lost three of their last four games in overtime or shootouts, including a shootout defeat to these same Flyers just six days prior. Philadelphia, sitting at 9-6-3, looks to build on their recent success against St. Louis while correcting defensive lapses that plagued them during last week’s road trip.

St. Louis Blues projected lineup November 20, 2025

The Blues will ice a reconfigured forward group with Neighbours returning to the top line after missing 12 games with a right leg injury. Head coach Jim Montgomery confirmed Neighbours would skate alongside Robert Thomas, giving St. Louis an immediate injection of offense. The return comes slightly ahead of schedule, as Montgomery noted: “The earliest we thought (he’d be back) was against the Islanders on Saturday. It could have been as [long] as the last game of the road trip.”

Blues forward lines and combinations

Montgomery’s offensive deployment shows clear prioritization of speed and skill throughout the lineup:

• Jake Neighbours — Robert Thomas — Jimmy Snuggerud: The top unit features Neighbours’ return flanking the playmaking Thomas and rookie sniper Snuggerud. This trio combines Neighbours’ physical edge and scoring touch with Thomas’ vision and Snuggerud’s elite shot.

• Dylan Holloway — Dalibor Dvorsky — Jordan Kyrou: A dynamic second line blending Holloway’s power forward potential, Dvorsky’s center ice intelligence, and Kyrou’s explosive skating and offensive creativity.

• Pavel Buchnevich — Pius Suter — Brayden Schenn: A veteran-heavy third line providing defensive responsibility and secondary scoring. Schenn’s leadership and Buchnevich’s two-way game stabilize this unit.

• Alexey Toropchenko — Oskar Sundqvist — Nathan Walker: The fourth line offers energy, physicality, and responsible defensive play. Toropchenko’s forechecking and Sundqvist’s faceoff prowess give the Blues a reliable checking line.

Blues defense pairs and goaltending

The defensive corps remains consistent with established pairings:

• Philip Broberg — Colton Parayko: The top pairing features Broberg’s mobility and emerging offensive game alongside Parayko’s shutdown presence and heavy shot.

• Cam Fowler — Justin Faulk: A veteran second pair with extensive playoff experience, providing smooth transition play and power quarterbacking.

• Tyler Tucker — Matthew Kessel: The third pairing brings physical edge (Tucker) and puck-moving ability (Kessel) for balanced depth.

Joel Hofer gets the start in goal after strong recent performances, with Jordan Binnington backing him up. The Blues scratched Hunter Skinner, Nick Bjugstad, and Mathieu Joseph, while designating Alexandre Texier as a non-roster player to activate Neighbours from injured reserve.

Philadelphia Flyers projected lineup November 20, 2025

Philadelphia enters with momentum from their previous shootout victory over St. Louis, though coach Rick Tocchet confirmed some game-time decisions remain. Dan Vladar gets the starting nod in goal for the Flyers.

Flyers forward lines and combinations

Tocchet’s forward deployment shows interesting adjustments since the last Blues matchup:

• Tyson Foerster — Noah Cates — Travis Konecny: A reconfigured top line featuring Cates’ two-way reliability, Konecny’s scoring punch, and Foerster’s developing power forward game.

• Owen Tippett — Christian Dvorak — Trevor Zegras: The breakout line from last week’s meeting, this trio combined for all five Flyers regulation goals in that shootout win. Dvorak leads the team with seven points in his last five games, making him a key focal point.

• Matvei Michkov — Sean Couturier — Bobby Brink: A skill-heavy third line blending the rookie Michkov’s elite talent, Couturier’s Selke Trophy pedigree, and Brink’s playmaking vision.

• Nick Deslauriers — Rodrigo Abols — Garnet Hathaway: The fourth line provides physical presence and energy, though Deslauriers may be a game-time decision based on Tocchet’s comments.

Flyers defense pairs and goaltending

The Flyers’ blue line remains steady with established pairings:

• Cam York — Travis Sanheim: The top pairing features York’s offensive instincts and Sanheim’s steady two-way presence, anchoring both even-strength and penalty kill units.

• Nick Seeler — Jamie Drysdale: A balanced second pair with Seeler’s defensive reliability complementing Drysdale’s puck-moving skill and power play quarterbacking.

• Emil Andrae — Noah Juulsen: The third pairing provides mobility (Andrae) and physical edge (Juulsen) for depth minutes.

Dan Vladar starts in goal with Samuel Ersson backing up, while Nicolas Deslauriers and Egor Zamula are scratched. Rasmus Ristolainen remains sidelined with a triceps injury.

Key matchups and tactical elements for Blues vs Flyers

The Dvorak line’s continued excellence

The reunion of Tippett, Dvorak, and Zegras presents the Blues’ biggest defensive challenge. As noted in the previous meeting, this line dominated the neutral zone and generated sustained offensive pressure. The Blues’ top defensive pairing of Broberg and Parayko will likely draw this assignment, requiring tight gap control and disciplined positioning to neutralize their creative passing sequences.

Neighbours’ impact on Blues’ special teams

Neighbours’ return significantly upgrades St. Louis’ power play and penalty kill units. His net-front presence and scoring touch give the Blues a weapon they sorely missed during his 12-game absence. The Flyers’ penalty kill, typically anchored by Couturier and Sanheim, must account for Neighbours’ positioning and Thomas’ playmaking on the Blues’ top unit.

Goaltending battle

Joel Hofer versus Dan Vladar features two goaltenders playing with confidence. Hofer’s athleticism and rebound control will be tested by the Flyers’ quick-strike transition game, while Vladar must track the Blues’ point shots from Parayko, Fowler, and Faulk while managing traffic in front. Both teams’ ability to generate secondary chances off initial saves could determine the outcome.

Flyers’ neutral zone adjustments

After struggling with neutral zone coverage during their road trip, Tocchet emphasized defensive structure in recent practices. The Flyers’ commitment to aggressive gap control and backpressure will be tested against the Blues’ stretch passing and Kyrou’s speed through the middle. Look for Philadelphia to implement a more conservative forecheck to prevent odd-man rushes.

Special teams breakdown and strategic advantages

Blues power play vs. Flyers penalty kill

St. Louis operates a 1-3-1 formation with Thomas quarterbacking from the half-wall, Parayko at the point, and Neighbours providing the net-front screen. The Flyers’ penalty kill uses a diamond formation with Couturier pressuring the puck carrier and Sanheim protecting the slot. Thomas’ vision against Couturier’s anticipation creates a fascinating chess match.

Flyers power play vs. Blues penalty kill

Philadelphia’s top unit features Drysdale at the point with Zegras and Cates working the flanks, while Brink and Foerster occupy the bumper and net-front positions. The Blues penalty kill relies on active stick work from Schenn and Suter, with Parayko’s reach disrupting passing lanes. The key battle will be along the half-boards where Zegras’ creativity meets the Blues’ shot-blocking mentality.

What to watch for during the game

The opening 10 minutes: With Neighbours returning and the Flyers implementing structural adjustments, both teams may need time to settle. The club that establishes their game plan early could gain a significant edge.

Dvorak’s line at 5-on-5: If the Tippett-Dvorak-Zegras unit continues their point-per-game pace, the Blues must counter by loading up their top defensive pair against them, potentially creating mismatches elsewhere.

Special teams efficiency: Both clubs feature top-10 power plays in recent weeks. The team that wins the special teams battle likely wins the game.

Physicality factor: With both teams icing energy lines featuring Toropchenko and Hathaway, the hitting battle along the walls could wear down defenses as the game progresses.

Goaltender workload: Both Vladar and Hofer have faced heavy shot volumes recently. The defense that limits high-danger chances and second opportunities will ease their netminder’s burden.

Injury updates and roster notes

The Blues activated Neighbours from injured reserve and designated Alexandre Texier as a non-roster player to clear roster space. Mathieu Joseph’s scratch allows Neighbours to slot directly into the top-six, while Hunter Skinner and Nick Bjugstad remain healthy scratches.

Philadelphia continues monitoring Rasmus Ristolainen’s triceps injury, with Nick Seeler capably filling his minutes alongside Jamie Drysdale. The Flyers’ depth on defense allows them to manage this absence without significant lineup disruption.

Conclusion and championship implications

The St. Louis Blues vs Philadelphia Flyers projected lineup for November 20, 2025, presents a compelling matchup of contrasting narratives. St. Louis desperately needs points to climb back into playoff contention, making Neighbours’ return potentially season-altering. The Flyers, comfortably in a Metropolitan Division playoff spot, use this game to refine their defensive structure while celebrating Hockey Fights Cancer night.

For the Blues, earning points against a conference opponent could spark a turnaround after their sluggish start. Philadelphia views this as a measuring stick game against a desperate team, offering valuable experience for their young core. The tactical battle between Montgomery’s system and Tocchet’s adjustments, combined with individual matchups like Thomas versus Couturier and Neighbours’ impact, makes this must-watch hockey for fans of both clubs.

The outcome likely hinges on special teams execution and whether the Blues can contain Philadelphia’s red-hot second line. With both goaltenders playing well, expect a tight, low-scoring affair that could once again require extra time to determine a winner. This game represents far more than two points in the standings—it’s about establishing identity, building momentum, and honoring the larger hockey community through the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative.