Game 25 Preview: Flyers @ Penguins
Dave Hakstol's Philadelphia Flyers (10-12-2) are in western Pennsylvania on Saturday to take on Mike Sullivan's Pittsburgh Penguins (10-9-5). Game time is 7:00 p.m. ET.
The game will be televised locally on NBCSP and nationally on NHL Network. The radio broadcast can be found on 97.5 FM The Fanatic with an online simulcast at
FlyersRadio247.com.
This is the first of four meeting this season between the longtime arch-rivals. The teams will rematch on Feb. 11 (Wells Fargo Center) and Feb. 23 (Stadium Series game at Lincoln Financial Field) in Philadelphia and March 17 back in Pittsburgh.
Last season, the Flyers went 0-2-2 against the Penguins. It marked the third season series between the teams in 51 seasons of competing that the Flyers failed to win at least one game against Pittsburgh. However, the Flyers continued a franchise history long record of having never failed to have gained at least a tie (pre-overtime era) or regulation tie (OT/shootout loss) in a season series with Pittsburgh. Over franchise history, the Flyers have swept a season series three times against the Penguins with two sweeps comprised entirely of regulation wins.
Flyers Outlook
The Flyers have had three days off to prepare for this game, having last played on Tuesday at home against the Ottawa Senators. Against a backdrop of trying to filter out distractions following Monday's abrupt dismissal of Ron Hextall as general manager and the ongoing search for a new GM, the team must circle the wagons and try to lift itself out of the 1-5-1 rut in which it now finds itself following a 5-0-1 stretch.
On Tuesday, the Flyers held a 3-1 lead over Ottawa midway through the third period but collapsed late to suffer a 4-3 regulation loss.
Over the course of the last week, in addition to firing Hextall, the organization has dismissed assistant general manager Chris Pryor and assistant coach Gord Murphy. Goaltender Cal Pickard, placed on waivers on Wednesday, was claimed by the Arizona Coyotes. Fourth-line winger Tyrell Goulbourne was returned to the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms with Michael Raffl being activated off the injured reserve list.
Anthony Stolarz is slated to make his second straight start in goal for the Flyers. Chronically injured veteran goaltender Michal Neuvirth has been activated from IR and will back up Stolarz in Pittsburgh. Primary starter Brian Elliott is close to being ready to come off IR.
At
practice on Thursday, Hakstol made changes on three of the four forward lines, leaving only the top line untouched. Nolan Patrick is now centering James van Riemsdyk and Wayne Simmonds. Scott Laughton will center the third line with Michael Raffl and Jakub Voracek on his wings. Jordan Weal (center) and Dale Weise (going back to right wing) have been moved down to the fourth line with left wing Oskar Lindblom (who was moved down three games ago and scarcely played in the Ottawa game).
Within Tuesday's game, Hakstol reunited the defense pairing of Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere. Robert Hägg played with Andrew MacDonald after the switch. Travis Sanheim remained with Radko Gudas.
Entering Saturday's game, the Flyers have scored an average 2.96 goals per game (tied for 18th) and have a team 3.58 GAA (29th). While the goaltending and team defense have been spotty, the offense has been feast-or-famine. The team he team has scored four or more goals in 10 games. But they've also been shut out four times already and held to a single goal in three other games.
The Flyers power play, which has not had a man advantage opportunity in either of the last two games, comes in at 15.7 percent (25th) with four shorthanded goals yielded. The penalty kill enters at 70.9 percent (31st). The Flyers have not yet scored a shorthanded goal.
The Flyers have scored first in nine of 24 games and are 6-2-1 in those games. They have trailed first 15 times. When yielding the game's first goal, the Flyers are 4-10-1.
Penguins Outlook
The Penguins have had an inconsistent season in their own right. Most recently, the team had a 3-0-2 uptick of points in five consecutive games before sustaining a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.
In the Colorado game, the Penguins found themselves staring at an early 3-0 deficit. Sidney Crosby singlehandedly pulled his team even with a natural hat trick. In somewhat similar fashion to the Flyers' collapse against Ottawa, the Penguins saw the Avalanche score three times in the final 10 minutes of the third period to pull away again to a final three-goal margin.
The Penguins did not practice on Thursday after traveling back from Denver. They returned to the ice on Friday, preparing for the Flyers game that starts a three-game homestand.
Patric Hönqvist (concussion) has missed the last three games. He returned to practice on Friday, skating on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust.
The Penguins enter Saturday's game averaging 3.38 goals per game (tied for 8th in the NHL) while carrying a team 3.25 goals against average (25th). Both ends of special teams have been strong overall. The power play enters at a formidable 24.6 percent (8th), although opponents have scored five shorthanded goals. The penalty kill enters at 82.6 percent (6th), but has yet to score shorthanded. The team has scored 60 goals at 5-on-5 but has given up 56.
PROJECTED LINEUPS (Subject to change)
FLYERS
28 Claude Giroux - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
25 James van Riemsdyk - 19 Nolan Patrick - 17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl - 21 Scott Laughton - 93 Jakub Voracek
23 Oskar Lindblom - 15 Jori Lehterä - 22 Dale Weise
9 Ivan Provorov - 53 Shayne Gostisbehere
8 Robert Hägg - 47 Andrew MacDonald
6 Travis Sanheim - 3 Radko Gudas
41 Anthony Stolarz
[30 Michal Neuvirth]
Scratches: 26 Christian Folin (healthy), 40 Jordan Weal (healthy), 37 Brian Elliott (IR, lower body), 10 Corban Knight (IR, collarbone), 5 Sam Morin (ACL surgery).
PENGUINS
59 Jake Guentzel - 87 Sidney Crosby - 12 Dominik Simon
17 Bryan Rust - 71 Evgeni Malkin - 72 Patric Hörnqvist
14 Tanner Pearson - 19 Derrick Brassard - 81 Phil Kessel
10 Garrett Wilson - 15 Riley Sheahan - 41 Daniel Sprong
8 Brian Dumoulin - 58 Kris Letang
3 Olli Määttä - 50 Juuso Riikola
73 Jack Johnson - 6 Jamie Oleksiak
1 Casey de Smith
[35 Tristan Jarry]
Scratches: 46 Zach Aston-Reese (healthy), 2 Chad Ruhwedel (healthy), 38 Derek Grant (healthy), 30 Matt Murray (IR, lower body), 4 Justin Schultz (IR, left left fracture), 7 Matt Cullen (IR, lower body).
***********
Phantoms Defeat Laval, Visit Belleville Next
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms got their 3-in-3 weekend road trip to Canada off to a good start with a 3-2 overtime win over the struggling Laval Rocket on Friday night. The Phantoms raised their record to 11-6-2 while Laval dropped to 8-12-3.
The Phantoms trailed 3-2 entering the final minute of the third period when Phil Varone forced OT with his second power play goal of the game (8th and 9th tallies of the season). In the extra frame, Nicolas Aube-Kubel (5th goal) took a feed from Varone (17th assist) and won the game at the 48-second mark. Philippe Myers also assisted on the game-winner for his second helper of the game.
Lehigh Valley spent much of the game killing penalties, but went 7-for-7 (raising their season success rate to an impressive 85.9%, 2nd best in the NHL despite an early-season 2-for-7 night that is keeping the percentage below the 90 percent mark). The power play went 2-for-3 and is also ranked 2nd in the AHL at 24.4 percent success.
Carter Hart earned the win in goal with 26 saves on 28 shots. To date, he has a 6-4-2 record, 3.48 GAA and .888 save percentage.
On Saturday, the Phantoms will play the Belleville Senators (10-11-1 after winning on Friday). The trip concludes on Sunday when the Phantoms face the defending Calder Cup champion Toronto Marlies (8-7-4) in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Final opponents.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»