FLYERS-BLUE JACKETS GAME PREVIEW (9:15 AM EST)
In the front end of a Metropolitan Division home-and-home set, the Philadelphia Flyers (15-15-4) will play host to the Columbus Blue Jackets (14-16-4). Game time is 7:00 p.m. EST. The match will be televised locally on CSN Philly.
This is the first of four meetings between the teams this season. The clubs will rematch in Columbus on Saturday, and then play again in Columbus on Jan. 23. The season series will conclude in Philadelphia on April 3.
After Saturday's return match in Columbus, the Flyers have a home game against Minnesota next Monday. Thereafter, the team has a break over Christmas. The schedule will resume on Saturday, Dec. 28, as the Flyers start a three-game western Canada road trip in Edmonton.
FLYERS OUTLOOK
Bringing a 3-3-2 record in December into tonight's game, the Flyers need a win to pull above the .500 mark for the first time in the 2013-14 season. The Flyers are coming off a 5-2 home win against Washington on Tuesday night; gaining a small measure of redemption for blowing a three-goal lead in the third period of Sunday's shootout loss in DC.
The Flyers' top line has been on hot streak entering tonight's game. Jakub Voracek, who scored a pair of goals in Tuesday's game, has a five-game point streak. He's scored goals in four of the last five matches. Giroux has a four-game point streak, with two goals and six points in that span. Michael Raffl, who did not get a point in the last game, has six points in his last five games.
Additionally, offensive defenseman Mark Streit has scored goals in back-to-back games after scoring just once in the first two-plus months of the season.
Philly tallied a pair of goals during a five-minute power play in Tuesday's game. That was a crucial turning point that turned a 2-2 tie into a 4-2 lead. For the season, the Flyers rank 17th in the NHL at 17.8 percent efficiency. However, even with their two goals on Tuesday, the club is just 8-for-68 (11.8 percent) on Wells Fargo Center ice.
On the penalty kill, the Flyers ranked 12th in the League at 82.9 percent efficiency. The Capitals' feared power play went 1-for-2 against the Flyers on Tuesday, but Philly won the overall special teams battle and it was a boon to take just two minors for the game.
Flyers goaltender Steve Mason has not had great month of December, but has had a very strong season overall (2.34 goals against average, .924 save percentage in 26 outings). Presuming he starts tonight, it will be the former Calder Trophy winner's first game against his former team since coming over to the Flyers from Columbus at the trade deadline last season.
On the injury front, Vincent Lecavalier (non-displaced fracture in his lower back) remains out of the Flyers lineup. The Flyers caught a break when Brayden Schenn emerged largely unscathed from a frightening hit by Washington forward Tom Wilson in Tuesday's game.
BLUE JACKETS OUTLOOK
The Blue Jackets have posted a 4-2-1 record thus far in December. The club is coming off a 3-2 home loss to Winnipeg on Monday. Third period goals by former Flyers forward R.J. Umberger and Fedor Tyutin were not enough to erase the Jets' 2-0 and 3-1 leads. Mike McKenna made 29 saves in a losing cause.
Columbus has held its own on the road this season, with an 8-8-2 record. Last week, the Jackets dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision in Pittsburgh before beating the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden by a 4-2 count.
The Jackets' power play may not be as fearsome as Washington's but it has been decent both at home and on the road. Overall, Columbus ranks 11th in the NHL on the man advantage (19.1 percent efficiency), posting a 19.2 percent rating on the road and 19.0 percent at home. On the penalty kill, the CBJs rank 19th overall (81.1 percent) but have been pretty weak on the road (75.5 percent, ranked 28th).
Ryan Johansen has been having a breakout season for the Blue Jackets. He leads the team with 12 goals and 27 points. He brings a nine-game point streak into tonight's game, and has posted six goals and 14 points in the last 11 games.
Neither the Flyers nor Blue Jackets have fared very well this season in games where they have given up the game's first goal. The Flyers, however, did trail first in Tuesday's win against the Capitals. Meanwhile, the Jackets are 3-13-1 when trailing first; their .176 winning percentage in such games ranks fourth from the bottom the League.
The Blue Jackets have been racked by injuries in recent weeks. Many are to key players.
First line forward Marian Gaborik is nearing his return from a sprained knee. He will not be available tonight, but is on track to be ready to play in Saturday's return game in Columbus.
Likewise, defenseman James Wisniewski (upper body) is not expected to be able to play tonight but is a better bet for Saturday's game.
Power forward Nathan Horton (left shoulder surgery) remains on injured reserve and will not be available for either game. Former Flyers goaltender and reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Sergei Bobrovsky, also remains on IR, sidelined with a groin injury.
Additionally, Derek MacKenzie (lower-body injury) is not expected to be available for either game of the home-and-home. Jared Boll (ankle surgery) remains on IR, along with defenseman Dalton Prout (upper body).
PROJECTED LINEUPS (Subject to change)
FLYERS
12 Michael Raffl - 28 Claude Giroux - 92 Jakub Voracek
19 Scott Hartnell - 10 Brayden Schenn - 17 Wayne Simmonds
24 Matt Read - 14 Sean Couturier - 9 Steve Downie
76 Chris VandeVelde - 18 Adam Hall - 36 Zac Rinaldo
44 Kimmo Timonen - 5 Braydon Coburn
8 Nicklas Grossmann - 32 Mark Streit
26 Erik Gustafsson - 22 Luke Schenn
35 Steve Mason
[29 Ray Emery]
Potential Scratches: Jay Rosehill (healthy), Vincent Lecavalier (back injury), Andrej Meszaros (healthy), Hal Gill (healthy), Chris Pronger (LTIR, post-concussion syndrome).
BLUE JACKETS
71 Nick Foligno - 19 Ryan Johansen - 18 R.J. Umberger
11 Matt Calvert - 17 Brandon Dubinsky - 13 Cam Atkinson
38 Boone Jenner - 42 Artem Anisimov - 14 Blake Comeau
26 Corey Tropp - 55 Mark Letestu - 5 Jack Skille
7 Jack Johnson - 51 Fedor Tyutin
58 David Savard - 27 Ryan Murray
6 Nikita Nikitin - 20 Tim Erixon
31 Curtis McIlhinney
[30 Mike McKenna]
Possible scratches: Marian Gaborik (sprained knee), James Wisniewski (upper body), Sergei Bobrovsky (IR, groin), Nathan Horton (IR, shoulder surgery), Derek MacKenzie (lower body), Jared Boll (IR, ankle surgery), Dalton Prout (IR, upper body).
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