PREVIEW: FLYERS VS. BLUES
Dave Hakstol's Philadelphia Flyers (14-12-7) are home on Monday to take on Ken Hitchcock's St. Louis Blues (20-10-4). Game time at the Wells Fargo Center is 7:00 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia.
This is the second final meeting of the season between the inter-conference teams and the lone game in Philadelphia. On Dec. 10 at the Scottrade Center, the Flyers skated to a 4-2 victory. Claude Giroux led the way with a goal and two assists, while Michael Raffl, Matt Read and Ryan White (empty net) also tallied for the Flyers. Michal Neuvirth was brilliant in stopping 35 of 37 shots. Robby Fabbri and David Backes (power play) scored for the Blues.
The Flyers last played on Saturday in Columbus. This is their final game before a five-night schedule break overlapping the NHL's leaguewide holiday break They'll return to action on Dec. 27 as they begin a three-game California road trip.
The Blues also last played on Saturday, hosting the Calgary Flames. After this game, the Blues are right back in action on Tuesday, visiting the Boston Bruins. After a three-night holiday break, the team returns to the ice to host the Dallas Stars.
Flyers Outlook
The Flyers have taken at least one point in 13 of the last 17 games (9-4-4). The club is is 7-2-2 over the past 11 games.
On Saturday in Columbus, the Flyers trailed the Blue Jackets by a 2-0 score in the third period before mounting a comeback to force overtime on goals by Scott Laughton and Jakub Voracek. Steve Mason was outstanding in turning back 35 of 37 shots during regulation and overtime. He then stopped four of six shooters in the shootout but it wasn't good enough as only Wayne Simmonds converted his chance among six Flyers shooters. Columbus prevailed, 3-2.
Giroux leads the Flyers with 11 goals, 17 assists and 28 points in 33 games. He is followed by Voracek (three goals, 18 assists, 21 points), Wayne Simmonds (seven goals, 10 assists, 17 points, 82 penalty minutes) and Brayden Schenn (seven goals, eight assists, 15 points). In 17 games since his recall from the AHL, offensive-minded rookie defenseman Gostisbehere has contributed six goals (four on the power play, three in overtime), six assists and 12 points. Couturier rounds out the top six with five goals, seven assists and 12 points in 27 games played.
In goal, Mason has made 20 appearances, posting a 2.71 goals against average, .914 save percentage and 6-8-5 record. Neuvirth has made 16 appearances, posting a 2.06 GAA, .937 save percentage and 8-4-2 record. Mason has posted two shutouts and a regulation shutout in a 1-0 OT loss, while Neuvirth has authored three shutouts.
Defenseman Mark Streit (detached pubic plate) is getting close to being ready to return from his Nov. 17 surgery. The veteran Swiss offensive defensemen could be able to return as soon as Dec. 27 in Anaheim.
Blues Outlook
The Blues' loss to the Flyers on Dec. 10 dropped their early December record to 1-3-1. Since that time, however, the team has gone 4-1-0 and brings a three-game winning streak to Philadelphia.
On Saturday, the Blues opened up a 3-0 lead through two periods against the Flames and then hung on in the third period for a 3-2 victory. Vladimir Tarasenko, defenseman Colton Parayko and Jori Lehterठscored for the Blues. Brian Elliott earned the win with 36 saves on 38 shots as St. Louis got outshot by a 30-15 margin over the final 40 minutes of the game.
Tarasenko leads the Blues with 36 points (21 goals, 15 assists) in 33 games. He is followed by Alexander Steen (11 goals, team-leading 21 assists, 32 points), David Backes (10 goals, 10 assists, 20 points), defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk (four goals, 16 assists, 20 points in 24 games) and Parayko (six goals, nine assists, 15 points, plus-15 in 32 games), Troy Brouwer (six goals, eight assists, 14 points), Lehterठ(four goals, nine assists), defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (two goals, 10 assists, 12 points, minus-five) and Paul Stastny (three goals, eight assists, 11 points in 18 games).
Jake Allen is likely to get the start against the Flyers. In 25 games played, Allen has posted a 15-7-2 record, 2.06 goals against average, .927 save percentage and four shutouts. Elliott has appeared in 13 games, posting a 2.40 GAA, .913 save percentage and 5-3-2 record.
Patrik Berglund is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Likewise, the Blues are also without Jaden Schwartz (left ankle) and Steve Ott (hamstring surgery).
Key team stat comparisons (NHL overall ranking)
Non-shootout goals per game: Flyers 2.09 (29th), Blues 2.53 (T-17th) Non-shootout goals against per game: Flyers 2.61 (19th), Blues 2.35 (6th) 5-on-5 Goals For/Against Ratio: Flyers 32/42, Blues 47/44 Power play efficiency: Flyers 15.8% (26th), Blues 20.8% (7th) Penalty killing efficiency: Flyers 80.7% (18th), Blues 87.8% (1st) Shots per game: Flyers 30.5 (9th), Blues 30.2 (10th) Shots against per game: Flyers 32.6 (29th), Blues 28.3 (6th) Faceoff percentage: Flyers 49.6% (19th), Blues 51.9% (3rd)
Projected lineups (subject to change, will be updated)
Flyers
12 Michael Raffl - 28 Claude Giroux - 10 Brayden Schenn 93 Jakub Voracek - 14 Sean Couturier - 17 Wayne Simmonds 76 Chris VandeVelde - 78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - 25 Ryan White 24 Matt Read - 21 Scott Laughton - 20 R.J. Umberger
15 Michael Del Zotto - 3 Radko Gudas 55 Nick Schultz - 82 Evgeny Medvedev 53 Shayne Gostisbehere - 22 Luke Schenn
35 Steve Mason [30 Michal Neuvirth]
Scratches: Vincent Lecavalier (healthy), Brandon Manning (healthy), Sam Gagner (healthy), Mark Streit (LTIR, displaced pubic plate).
Blues
20 Alexander Steen - 26 Paul Stastny - 91 Vladimir Tarasenko 56 Magnus Pà¤à¤jà¤rvi - 42 David Backes - 36 Troy Brouwer 15 Robby Fabbri - 12 Jori Lehterठ- 23 Dmitrij Jaskin 10 Scottie Upshall - 93 Scott Gomez - 75 Ryan Reaves
19 Jay Bouwmeester - 27 Alex Pietrangelo 6 Joel Edmundson - 22 Kevin Shattenkirk 4 Carl Gunnarsson - 55 Colton Parayko
34 Jake Allen [1 Brian Elliott]
Scratches: Robert Bortuzzo (healthy), Kyle Brodziak (healthy), Jordan Caron (healthy), Patrik Berglund (IR, shoulder), Jaden Schwartz (IR, left ankle), Steve Ott (IR. hamstring surgery).