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Flyers Gameday: 1/10/17 @ BUF |
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PREVIEW: FLYERS @ SABRES
Dave Hakstol's Philadelphia Flyers (21-15-6) are in New York State on Tuesday to take on Dan Bylsma's Buffalo Sabres (15-15-9). The game will be televised on CSN Philadelphia. Game time at KeyBank Center is 7:00 p.m. ET.
This is the second of three meetings between the teams this season and the first of two in Buffalo. The season series wraps up in Buffalo on March 7.
On Oct. 4 in Philly, the Flyers trailed the Sabres, 3-0, after two periods only to rally in the third period and prevail via shootout, 4-3. A troika of power play goals by Travis Konecny, Brayden Schenn and Mark Streit -- the latter two coming in the final three minutes of regulation -- rescued one point for the Flyers.
Philadelphia had the better of play in overtime, but had to win via shootout. The Flyers outscored Buffalo 2-0 in the skills competition. Second-round shooter Claude Giroux and third-round shooter Jakub Voracek converted their chances and relief goaltender Steve Mason stopped Ryan O'Reilly and Kyle Okposo to earn the win.
Flyers Outlook
Following a 10-game winning streak, the Flyers have posted a 2-5-3 record over the last 10 tilts.
Philly brings a road record of 8-9-3 into Buffalo, compared to a 13-6-3 mark at home.
On a brighter note, the team has gained points from three of the last four games (1-1-2) and, with the major exception of a third-period implosion last Wednesday against the New York Rangers, has been playing better hockey of late. The Flyers took three of four possible points from a tough weekend back-to-back to set against the Tampa Bay Lightning (4-2 win) and Columbus Blue Jackets (2-1 overtime loss).
Two controversial rulings on plays challenged for goaltender interference -- an overturned Flyers goal and a Columbus goal that stood -- figured heavily in the outcome on Sunday. A Brayden Schenn goal in the final 17 seconds of regulation forced OT. In overtime, aVoracek turnover and an odd-man rush for the Blue Jackets produced a game-winning goal for Nick Foligno.
In a losing cause, Mason (21 saves on 23 shots) was selected the game's third star. One afternoon earlier, a returning Michal Neuvirth turned in a solid performance against Tampa Bay
On the heels of a monster performance against Tampa Bay, rookie defenseman Ivan Provorov led the Flyers with 23:47 of ice time against Columbus. He collected an assist on the game-tying goal, and was credited with two hits and two blocked shots (after a half dozen blocks against Tampa). Overall, the Flyers blocked 22 attempted Columbus shots.
Another positive sign: In the last four games, the Flyers have played against each of the four top-ranked power play teams in the NHL. The Flyers penalty kill, which was not overtaxed by being put to work too often in that span, responded by not yielding a goal in that span.
At some point this week, Flyers defenseman Mark Streit is likely to receive medical clearance to return to the Flyers lineup. That will necessitate a roster move by Philadelphia, both for salary cap compliance and the roster space to re-add Streit.
Voracek leads the Flyers with 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 42 games. Claude Giroux is second on the team with 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists), while Wayne Simmonds paces the club with 17 goals and eight power play tallies among his 32 points. Simmonds is in a bit of an offensive drought of late with three points (one goal, two assists) in his last 10 games.
Brayden Schenn is fourth on the Flyers' scoring leaderboard with 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 39 games. He's followed by rookie Travis Konecny (six goals, 14 assists), Gostisbehere (four goals, 15 assists, minus-12). Provorov has 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) while dressing in all 42 games. The 19-year-old leads the Flyers in ice time.
Mason has posted a 14-13-6 record, 2.79 GAA and .903 save percentage to date. Neuvirth has a 5-2-0 record in 10 appearances with a 3.35 GAA and .867 save percentage.
Sabres Outlook
In seventh place in the Atlantic Division, the Sabres have played .500 hockey both at home (8-8-3) and on the road (7-7-6) to date. Buffalo has posted a 3-4-3 record over its last 10 games but is coming off a 4-3 regulation home win against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
The Sabres trailed the game, 3-1, heading into the third period before goals by Marcus Foligno, Zemgus Girgensons and Brian Gionta turned the tables by mid-period. Buffalo, which also got a first-period tally by Ryan O'Reilly. Robin Lehner (32 saves on 35 shots) earned the win.
On the injury front, Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges (hip) was scratched. Taylor Fedun played in his place. Also injured for Buffalo:Cody McCormick, Johan Larsson, Tyler Ennis and Dmitry Kulikov.
As a team, lack of offensive pop has been an issue for Buffalo. The team has improved to 14th in the NHL in goals against average but only the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes have scored fewer goals as a team than Buffalo's 88 non-shootout goals. The Sabres only have one player with double-digit goals as they prepare to play their 40th game of the regular season. However, the Sabres bring the NHL's eighth-ranked power play efficiency into this tilt.
In his 18 games since returning from a training camp injury, Jack Eichel has posted 14 points (eight goals, six assists). Overall, Kyle Okposo leads the Sabres with 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists). He's followed by defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (three goals, 23 assists), Sam Reinhart (eight goals, 16 assists), O'Reilly (eight goals, 16 assists), Gionta (eight goals, 10 assists), and Matt Moulson (eight goals, nine points). Evander Kane has scored nine goals among his 14 points in 28 games.
Lehner has had 27 outings (all starts), posting a 9-12-5 record, 2.53 GAA and .921 save percentage. Anders Nilsson has played in 13 games to date, posting a 6-3-4 record, 2.47 GAA, .926 save percentage and one shutout.
Key team stat comparisons (NHL overall ranking)
Non-shootout goals per game: Flyers 2.83 (T-8th), Sabres 2.26 (27th)
Non-shootout goals against per game: Flyers 2.98 (25th), Sabres 2.67 (T-14th)
Power play efficiency: Flyers 21.5% (9th), Sabres 21.9% (8th)
Penalty killing efficiency: Flyers 81.7% (17th), Sabres 74.3% (29th)
Shots on goal per game: Flyers 31.5 (6th), Sabres 29.1 (19th)
Shots against per game: Flyers 28.6 (8th), Sabres 32.8 (28th)
Faceoff percentage: Flyers 51.1% (T-8th), Sabres 51.1% (T-8th)
Projected Lineups (subject to change)
FLYERS
12 Michael Raffl - 28 Claude Giroux - 93 Jakub Voracek
11 Travis Konecny - 14 Sean Couturier - 17 Wayne Simmonds
22 Dale Weise - 10 Brayden Schenn - 24 Matt Read
76 Chris VandeVelde - 78 P-E Bellemare - 13 Roman Lyubimov
9 Ivan Provorov - 47 Andrew MacDonald
15 Michael Del Zotto- 3 Radko Gudas
53 Shayne Gostisbehere - 23 Brandon Manning
35 Steve Mason
[30 Michal Neuvirth]
Scratches: Mark Streit (LTIR, shoulder), Nick Schultz (healthy), Boyd Gordon (healthy), Nick Cousins (healthy).
SABRES
82 Marcus Foligno - 15 Jack Eichel - 23 Sam Reinhart
48 Will Carrier - 90 Ryan O'Reilly - 21 Kyle Okposo
9 Evander Kane - 28 Zemgus Girgensons - 12 Brian Gionta
44 Nicolas Deslauriers - 27 Derek Grant - 26 Matt Moulson
29 Jake McCabe - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
47 Zach Bogosian - 6 Cody Franson
41 Justin Falk - 38 Taylor Fedun
31 Anders Nilsson
[40 Robin Lehner]
Scratches: Justin Bailey (healthy), Johan Larsson (IR, wrist and elbow), Josh Gorges (hip), Dmitry Kulikov (IR, back), Tyler Ennis (IR, sports hernia), Cody McCormick (IR, blood clot in leg).
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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