PREVIEW: FLYERS VS. BLUES
In the final game of a three-game homestand, Craig Berube's Philadelphia Flyers (27-25-12) play host to Ken Hitchcock's St. Louis Blues (40-18-5). Game time at the Wells Fargo Center is 7:00 p.m. EST. The game will be televised locally on CSN Philadelphia and nationally on NHL Network.
This is the first of the two meetings between the inter-Conference teams this season. The clubs will rematch next Thursday in St. Louis.
The Flyers last played on Tuesday, hosting the Calgary Flames. On Saturday, the Flyers are on the road to play the Boston Bruins. The Blues are in the fourth game of a five-game road trip but have had the last three nights off since playing a game in Vancouver that ended in a shootout.
Flyers outlook
The Flyers have gained at least one point in 14 of their last 17 games (9-3-5). The team opens play on Thursday five points behind the Boston Bruins for the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins, who hold two games in hand, host Calgary on Thursday.
On Tuesday, the Flyers rallied back from a 2-0 deficit in the third period to tie the Flames before ultimately losing, 3-2, in overtime. Goals by Sean Couturier and Mark Streit knotted the game, sandwiched around a controversial disallowed goal for incidental contact around the net. Steve Mason stopped 23 of 26 shots in a losing cause.
The Flyers rank 13th among NHL teams in winning percentage this season (19-2-6 record) when scoring first. However, in games in which the Flyers trail first, they rank 24th (8-23-6).
Nicklas Grossmann sustained an upper-body injury while blocking a shot early in the second period of Saturday's game. He is officially day-to-day but is not expected to play on Thursday. Barring Grossmann feeling ready to play against St. Louis, Carlo Colaiacovo will remain in the Philadelphia lineup.
Based upon reported line combinations at Wednesday's practice, Zac Rinaldo may re-enter the lineup on Thursday with Vincent Lecavalier returning to the healthy scratch list.
Blues outlook
The Blues are 2-0-1 thus far on their road trip. On Sunday, the team sustained a 6-5 shootout loss in Vancouver after rallying from a three-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime. Early in the game, St. Louis jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Vancouver responded with five consecutive goals including a pair in the opening 9:40 of the first period.
Ryan Reaves, Alex Pietrangelo, Dmitrij Jaskin, Petteri Lindbohm and David Backes scored in regulation for St. Louis. The Blues went 1-for-2 in the shootout, with second-round shooter Vladimir Tarasenko converting his attempt. Jake Allen played most of the game in goal, stopping 21 of 25 shots in 58:43 of action during regulation and overtime before getting beaten on all three shots he faced in the shootout. Brian Elliott played 6:14 worth of the third period, stopping five of six shots.
The Blues made three moves at the NHL trade deadline on Monday. General manager Doug Armstrong added defenseman Zbynek Michalek via trade with the Arizona Coyotes, defenseman Robert Bortuzzo (in exchange for defenseman Ian Cole) via trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and veteran center Olli Jokinen (in a swap for center Joakim Lindström) via trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ken Hitchcock's club brings the NHL's fourth-best road record (18-10-3) in Thursday's game in Philadelphia. It is critical that the Flyers score first against St. Louis if Philly is to have a decent shot at winning. Despite Sunday's outcome, the Blues are 28-4-2 (third-best winning percentage in the NHL) when scoring first. When trailing first, St. Louis ranks eighth (12-14-3).
The Blues are missing one of their big weapons on the blueline. Kevin Shattenkirk remains on injured reserve after undergoing abdominal surgery. Michalek is questionable with an upper-body injury sustained prior to the trade to St. Louis.
Key team stat comparisons (NHL overall ranking)
Non-shootout goals per game: Flyers 2.61 (21st), Blues 3.00 (5th) Non-shootout goals against per game: Flyers 2.80 (T-23rd), Blues 2.48 (8th) Even strength Goals For/Against Ratio: Flyers 0.97 (T-20th), Blues 1.22 (4th) Power play efficiency: Flyers 23.0% (3rd), Blues 22.8% (4th) Penalty killing efficiency: Flyers 76.3% (28th), Blues 81.0% (17th) Faceoff percentage: Flyers 51.6% (9th), Blues 53.5% (2nd)
Projected lineups (Subject to change, will be updated)
FLYERS
12 Michael Raffl - 28 Claude Giroux - 17 Wayne Simmonds 24 Matt Read - 14 Sean Couturier - 93 Jakub Voracek 25 Ryan White - 10 Brayden Schenn - 18 R.J. Umberger 76 Chris VandeVelde - 78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - 36 Zac Rinaldo
55 Nick Schultz - 32 Mark Streit 15 Michael Del Zotto - 22 Luke Schenn 26 Carlo Colaiacovo - 47 Andrew MacDonald
35 Steve Mason [29 Ray Emery]
Scratches: Vincent Lecavalier (healthy), Nicklas Grossmann (doubtful. upper body), Radko Gudas (IR, knee surgery).
BLUES
20 Alexander Steen - 42 David Backes - 74 T.J. Oshie 17 Jaden Schwartz - 12 Jori Lehtera - 91 Vladimir Tarasenko 21 Patrik Berglund - 26 Paul Stastny - 23 Dmitrij Jaskin 9 Steve Ott - 57 Marcel Goc - 75 Ryan Reaves
4 Carl Gunnarsson - 27 Alex Pietrangelo 48 Petteri Lindbohm - 19 Jay Bouwmeester 5 Barret Jackman - 25 Chris Butler
1 Brian Elliott / 34 Jake Allen
Scratches: Chris Porter (healthy), Robert Bortuzzo (healthy), Zbynek Michalek (questionable, upper body), Kevin Shattenkirk (IR, abdominal surgery).
********** FLYERS ALUMNI UPDATES
* The latest edition of the monthly Then and Now feature on notable former Flyers players takes an in-depth look at the life and career of fiery goaltender Robert Esche. The Utica, NY, native was one of the more underrated goalies the Flyers have had in their recent history and he holds the Philadelphia years of his career close to his heart to this day. For more, click here.
* Happy birthday wishes go out to Flyers Alumni left winger Shjon Podein (1968) and center Anatoli Semenov (1962). The late Pat "Hopalong" Hannigan was born on March 5, 1936. For mini-bios of the three players, a look back at other notable March 5 happenings in Flyers' history (such as the 1973 acquisition of Terry Crisp in a trade with Islanders) and much more, click here.
* Upcoming Flyers Alumni Games and Events:
3/7/15: University of Delaware Ice Arena - 7:00 p.m. (benefits Junior Achievement of Delaware) 4/4/15: The Rink at Lehigh Valley in Whitehall, PA - 2:00 p.m. (benefits You Too Animal Rescue) 4/12/15: NE Philadelphia Skate Zone - 1:30 p.m. (benefits NHS Human Services) 4/25/15: Voorhees NJ Skate Zone - 1:10 p.m.