Update (12:15pm ET): The Colorado Avalanche have claimed Mark Barberio from the waiver wire minutes ago:
Mark Barberio has been claimed by the #avs.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 2, 2017
Update (11:47am ET): The KHL insider who broke the news that Alexander Radulov signed with Montreal last summer reports that the Habs' interest in Matt Duchene (COL) is legitimate and "huge":
Rumblings have it that Montreal has huge interest in Duchene.
— Aivis Kalniņš (@A_Kalnins) February 2, 2017
A hungry Philadelphia Flyers team hosts the Montreal Canadiens tonight at the Wells Fargo Center in hopes of gaining grounds in the playoff race. With 56 points earned through 51 games played, they are being closely chased by the Toronto Maple Leafs (48 GP, 55 PTS), the Florida Panthers (51 GP, 54 PTS) and the surging New York Islanders, who have 53 points in 48 contests. The Habs will have to be wary of a club looking to solidify their position in the final Wild Card spot, as the Flyers’ 15-7-3 home record is certainly nothing to scoff at.
The Canadiens, on the other hand, will look to maintain their Atlantic Division-leading season with the return of Alex Galchenyuk after welcoming back Andrei Markov, David Desharnais and Greg Pateryn two days ago. An almost fully-healthy roster should help head coach Michel Therrien’s troops earn themselves a road win ahead of their upcoming back-to-back Super Bowl weekend matinee games at the Bell centre against the Washington Capitals and Edmonton Oilers. Only forward Brendan Gallagher remains on the injured reserve.
While the Habs’ power play has greatly improved – they are third overall in the National Hockey League by converting on 23.4% of their chances- they will have to remain disciplined against the ninth overall team with the man advantage as the Flyers have scored on 21.5% of their opportunities.
As reported yesterday, Therrien has made interesting lineup changes as Galchenyuk will pivot a line flanked by Andrew Shaw and David Desharnais. According to yesterday’s poll, 55% of respondents believed that the new combination will not stay together for the duration of tonight’s entire matchup. There’s no telling just how much chemistry that line will have, but the coach’s questionable decisions have found a strangely effective way of working out on most nights. The last time out, Desharnais, Shaw and Sven Andrighetto managed to put enough pressure on the forecheck to force a turnover and score a goal. It appears that Andrighetto will nevertheless make way for Jacob De La Rose on the fourth line, as both were rotating in and out during practice yesterday morning.
Moreover, defenseman Jeff Petry who missed the last game with the flu, is expected to be reinserted into the lineup while second-year Flyer’s blue-liner Shayne Gotisbehere should reportedly be a healthy scratch. Pateryn will also skip his turn, if yesterday’s morning skate pairings are any indication.
Carey Price made 37 saves against the Buffalo Sabres and will go head-to-head with Steve Mason, who let in five goals in the Flyers’ last outing against the Carolina Hurricanes.
As this is the last time both teams will meet this season, today’s poll asks: