Aleksei Kolosov should use preseason opener to enforce roster spot

Preseason games may not matter result wise. But they hold meaning in other ways. For bubble players, it's a chance to make an impression and raise their stock in the organization.

Aleksei Kolosov, barring any injuries, won't be on the NHL roster to start the season. But his play in the preseason can keep him on the Flyers' radar. He will get the first chance to impress as he is expected to play two periods against the New York Islanders in the preseason opener.

Getting the basics out of the way, fans can watch the game via the Flyers website at 7:00 p.m.

The team in front of Kolosov will have a healthy mix of youth and veterans, though the defense is a mostly inexperienced one. Jamie Drysdale is the veteran of the backend and he's only played 217 career games. Otherwise, he'll have the likes of Emil Andrae, Spencer Gill, and Adam Ginning.

On the other side, Kolosov will face some NHL talent right off the bat. The Islanders will have Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvart, Kyle Palmieri, and a host of other veterans in the lineup. Former Flyer Tony Angelo will be on the backend, while the 33-year-old David Rittich will start in the net.

Kolosov can keep himself in the mix with a strong preseason start

It will be a good test for Kolosov to face numerous players who are staples in their lineup. He doesn't have to necessarily blow the doors off in his first start, but if he can provide solid and stable goaltending, it will go a long way. His partner will be Carson Bjarnason, who should get the net for the final period. The two are expected to work with each other in Lehigh Valley.

By trading Ivan Fedotov before training camp opened, it moved Kolosov up the depth chart. It also showed the team is still committed to developing him. While there was uncertainty with his status before, Fedotov's departure made things clearer.

There's room for more in Kolosov's game and he needs to put up better performances than last season. Having more consistent playing time will be good for his development and should allow him to become more comfortable at the professional level. He had his moments in the NHL last season, but the 3.59 goals against average and .867 save percentage aren't going to cut it.

Being in and out of the lineup and sitting in the press box certaintly didn't help. However, Kolosov should use this first preseason game as a chance to put all of that behind him. Having a good start can help his confidence and prove to himself that he can be a goaltender at this level. And it will show the Flyers they were right to trust in him moving forward.

It's only one game, but it can be used as a springboard for the rest of Kolosov's preseason.