FLYERS-BLUE JACKETS GAME PREVIEW (10:15 P.M. EST, 12/20/13)
In the back end of a Metropolitan Division home-and-home set, the Philadelphia Flyers (16-15-4) are on the road to play the Columbus Blue Jackets (14-17-4). Game time is 7:00 p.m. EST. The match will be televised locally on CSN Philly.
This is the second of four meetings between the teams this season. The clubs will play again in Columbus on Jan. 23. The season series will conclude in Philadelphia on April 3.
On Thursday night, the Flyers staged an improbable comeback from 3-0 and 4-2 deficits in the third period, tallying three times in the final five minutes to skate off with a 5-4 victory in regulation. Claude Giroux capped off the comeback with the tying and winning goals. The later came on a spectacularly improbable backhanded shot as he fell to the ice.
Before the Flyers break over Christmas, the Flyers have a home game against Minnesota on Monday. The schedule will resume on Saturday, Dec. 28, as the Flyers start a three-game western Canada road trip in Edmonton.
FLYERS OUTLOOK
Thursday's comeback victory pulled Philadelphia above the .500 mark for the first time in the 2013-14 season. Thus far in December, the Flyers are 4-3-2. On the road, the Flyers have posted a 6-8-4 record to date this season.
In the first game against the Blue Jackets, Jakub Voracek (one goal, two assists) extended his point streak to six straight games, during which time he has compiled six goals and four assists for 10 of his 22 points to date this season. Giroux (two goals, two assists) tallied the game-tying and game-winning goals in the waning minutes of the third period to extend his point streak to five straight games. In that span, the Flyers captain has tallied four of his nine goals this season and 10 of his 30 points.
Flyers goaltender Steve Mason has not had great month of December (3.23 GAA, .890 save percentage), but has had a solid season overall with a 2.40 goals against average, .922 save percentage in 27 outings). He had an average outing in his first career game against his former Columbus teammates. Ray Emery may get the call on Saturday night.
On the injury front, Vincent Lecavalier (non-displaced fracture in his lower back) remains out of the Flyers lineup.
BLUE JACKETS OUTLOOK
The Blue Jackets have posted a 4-3-1 record thus far in December. The club has lost each of its last two games. For the season, Columbus has a home record of 8-8-2).
Ryan Johansen had a nine-game point streak snapped in Thursday's game. However, he has still posted six goals and 14 points in his last 12 matches. With 12 goals and 27 points, Johansen leads the Blue Jackets in scoring. Cam Atkinson (shorthanded), Jack Skille, Nick Foligno and Blake Comeau scored for the Jackets in the first end of the home-and-home with the Flyers.
Curtis McIlhinney started Thursday game in goal. He stopped all 23 shots fired his way over the opening 40 minutes, but was solved five times on 16 shots in the third period.
The Blue Jackets have been racked by injuries in recent weeks. On Saturday night, two key players are expected to return.
Marian Gaborik has been activated from injured reserve and is expected to return from a sprained knee. Likewise, defenseman James Wisniewski (upper body injury) is expected to be able to rejoin the lineup against the Flyers.
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, while Jared Boll (ankle surgery) remains on IR, along with defenseman Dalton Prout (upper body).
Skille sustained a wrist injury in Thursday's game. X-rays were negative. However, his availability for Saturday's game is unclear as of this writing.
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
29 Ray Emery / 35 Steve Mason
Potential Scratches: Jay Rosehill (healthy), Vincent Lecavalier (back injury), Andrej Meszaros (healthy), Hal Gill (healthy), Chris Pronger (LTIR, post-concussion syndrome).
BLUE JACKETS
11 Matt Calvert - 19 Ryan Johansen - 18 R.J. Umberger
71 Nick Foligno - 42 Artem Anisimov - 10 Marian Gaborik
38 Boone Jenner - 17 Brandon Dubinsky - 13 Cam Atkinson
26 Corey Tropp - 55 Mark Letestu - 14 Blake Comeau
7 Jack Johnson - 51 Fedor Tyutin
58 David Savard - 27 Ryan Murray
6 Nikita Nikitin - 21 James Wisniewski
31 Curtis McIlhinney
[30 Mike McKenna]
Possible scratches: Tim Erixon (healthy), Jack Skille (sore wrist), 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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