Flyers-Jets: Game 18 Preview

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(Kate Frese/Sports Talk Philly)

By Bill Minchin, Sports Talk Philly 

The Philadelphia Flyers (7-7-3) are back on the Wells Fargo Center ice tonight when they host NHL points leader Mark Scheifele and the Winnipeg Jets (9-7-2) Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.

 
This is the first of two meetings between the clubs and the lone matchup in Philadelphia. Last season the Flyers handed the Jets two losses in their two meetings. The first was a 3-0 shutout in Winnipeg followed by a 3-2 overtime victory in Philly. 

Team Leaders

Flyers Leaders GP G A P Jets Leaders GP G A P
Jake Voracek 17 7 10 17 Mark Scheifele 18 10 11 21
Claude Giroux 17 4 12 16 Patrik Laine 18 12 5 17
Wayne Simmonds 17 8 7 15 Nikolaj Ehlers 18 4 12 16
Travis Konecny 17 4 6 10 Blake Wheeler 18 5 8 13
Brayden Schenn 14 3 7 10 Dustin Byfuglien 18 0 9 9
 
Player to Watch
12 Michael Raffl 26 Blake Wheeler
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 1 A, 2 P, +2 Last 5 Games: 2 G, 2 A, 4 P, +1
 
Michael Raffl was a healthy scratch last Friday in Toronto. If it was done to send a message, then the message was received. Raffl has a goal and an assist in the last two games since being scratched and is playing his best hockey of the young season. 
 
It would be easy to spotlight Scheifele or rookie sensation Patrik Laine but our player to watch is Blake Wheeler. Wheeler is a solid player who always seems to end up on the scoresheet when he plays the Flyers.
 
Goalie Matchup
35 Steve Mason 37 Connor Hellebuyck
3-5-3, 3.24 GAA, .884 SV% 7-4-0, 2.45 GAA, .916 SV%

Steve Mason is back between the pipes for the Flyers. Mason has been criticized for his play this season but overall his numbers have gotten better over the last few weeks. His goals against has gradually gone down while the save percentage has slowly increased.  

Connor Hellebuyck has entrenched himself as the number one for the Jets. Hellebuyck has taken the reigns from the departed Ondrej Pavelec

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Roman Lyubimov, Nick Schultz, Shayne Gostisbehere, Boyd Gordon, Michal Neuvirth

Left Wing Center Right Wing
10 Brayden Schenn 28 Claude Giroux 17 Wayne Simmonds
11 Travis Konecny 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
12 Michael Raffl 78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare 24 Matt Read
76 Chris VandeVelde 25 Nick Cousins 22 Dale Weise
Defense    
15 Michael Del Zotto 47 Andrew MacDonald  
23 Brandon Manning 3 Radko Gudas  
9 Ivan Provorov 32 Mark Streit  
Goalie    
35 Steve Mason    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (2nd, 4th at home), Jets (18th, 27th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (25th, 16th at home), Jets (16th, 7th on road) 
  • Tonight is the second of five Heritage Nights. The game will honor tough guys in Flyers history.
  • Milestone Watch
    • Claude Giroux needs three points to move into 10th all-time in Flyers history, passing Simon Gagne.

Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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