Game 15 Preview: Flyers @ Coyotes
Dave Hakstol's Philadelphia Flyers (6-7-1) are in Glendale on Monday evening to take on Rick Tocchet's Arizona Coyotes (7-5-0). Game time at the Gila River Arena is 9:00 p.m. ET.
The game will be televised on NBCSNP. The radio broadcast can be found on 97.5 FM The Fanatic with an online simulcast at FlyersRadio247.com.
This is the first of two meetings this season between the inter-conference clubs, which is a home-and-home set separated by three nights. They will rematch at the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday. Last season, the Coyotes earned their elusive first win of the 2017-18 campaign in a 4-3 overtime decision in Philadelphia on Oct. 30. On Feb. 10 in Glendale, the Flyers prevailed via shootout, 4-3.
Flyers Outlook
The Flyers are playing the final game of a four-game road trip. Thus far, the team is 2-0-1 and is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks. Nolan Patrick (4th), Jordan Weal (2nd) and Jakub Voracek (4th) scored for the Flyers, who have never trailed at any point during regulation on the road trip thus far.
Flyers left winger Oskar Lindblom, who has five points (one goal, four assists) on the current road trip, had two assists in the San Jose game. Cal Pickard stopped 31 of 35 shots in a losing cause.
The status of goaltender Brian Elliott is unknown as of this writing. He was run over by teammate Travis Konecny in a collision at practice on Sunday. Elliott left under his own power but was reportedly holding his head. With Michal Neuvirth back in Philadelphia and officially on day-to-day injury status, Pickard may start in goal for the second straight game. If Elliott is unavailable, Alex Lyon is the most likely recall from the Phantoms to back up Pickard.
Through 14 games, the Flyers have scored 42 goals but yielded 54. The power play comes in an anemic 14.6 percent and the scuffling penalty kill is at 68.7 percent.
Coyotes Outlook
The Coyotes are a perfect 4-0-0 on their current five-game homestand. Arizona has won five games in a row and six of their last seven. A rough start to October, which saw the team get shut out in three of the first four games, seems to already be far in the rearview mirror.
On Friday, the Coyotes grabbed a 3-0 lead over the Carolina Hurricanes on the strength of goals by Brad Richardson (4th), Brendan Perlini (2nd) and ex-Flyers forward Nick Cousins (1st). Veteran defenseman Alex Goligoski assisted on all three goals. The Hurricanes stormed back with a goal in the second period and two in the latter portion of the third period to force OT amid a 24-shot barrage by Carolina in the third period. Finally, at 1:17 of overtime, Clayton Keller set up Michael Grabner (3rd goal of the season) to win the game.
Antti Raanta earned the win in goal for Arizona. He stopped 48 of 51 Carolina shots.
Highly regarded young Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun has yet to play this season due to off-season knee surgery. He is now day-to-day and could play as soon as the rematch game in Philadelphia on Thursday.
The Coyotes have only yielded 24 goals through 12 goals while scoring 34. The power play has not done much damage (14.7 percent) but the penalty kill (92.1 percent) has been excellent. The Coyotes bring a team .933 save percentage into this game, compared to Philly's .867 save percentage.
PROJECTED LINEUPS (Subject to change)
FLYERS
28 Claude Giroux - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny 23 Oskar Lindblom - 19 Nolan Patrick - 93 Jakub Voracek 22 Dale Weise - 40 Jordan Weal - 17 Wayne Simmonds 21 Scott Laughton - 15 Jori Lehterठ- 62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel
9 Ivan Provorov - 8 Robert Hà¤gg 53 Shayne Gostisbehere - 26 Christian Folin 6 Travis Sanheim - 3 Radko Gudas
33 Cal Pickard [34 Alex Lyon]
Scratches: 37 Brian Elliott (upper body), 47 Andrew MacDonald (healthy), 39 Tyrell Goulbourne (healthy), 30 Michal Neuvirth (IR, lower body), 12 Michael Raffl (IR, lower body), 10 Corban Knight (IR, collarbone), 25 James van Riemsdyk (IR, lower body), 5 Sam Morin (ACL surgery).
COYOTES
14 Richard Panik - 17 Alex Galchenyuk - 9 Clayton Keller 11 Brendan Perlini - 21 Derek Stepan - Christian Fischer 40 Michael Grabner - 15 Brad Richardson - 13 Vince Hinostroza 67 Lawson Crouse - 20 Dylan Strome - 25 Nick Cousins…‹
23 Oliver Ekman-Larsson - 55 Jason Demers 82 Jordan Oesterle - 4 Niklas Hjalmarsson 33 Alex Goligoski - 46 Ilya Lyubushkin…‹
35 Darcy Kuemper [32 Antti Raanta]
Scratches: Josh Archibald (healthy), 44 Kevin Connauton (day-to-day, illness), 18 Christian Dvorak (IR, lower body), 6 Jakob Chychrun (IR, knee surgery).