Flyers-Hurricanes: Game 51 Preview

10-22-16_FlyersvsHurricanes_2nd_credKateFrese-25
 

(Kate Frese/Sports Talk Philly)

By Bill Minchin, Sports Talk Philly writer

The Philadelphia Flyers (25-19-6) return from the All Star break with a showdown in Carolina against the division rival Hurricanes (21-20-7). The Flyers are riding a three game winning streak heading into tonight's game. Opening face off is set for 7:00pm. 

 

This is the third of five meetings between the clubs and the second and final meeting in Raleigh. So far this season the Flyers are 2-0-0 against the Canes.

 
Flyers Leaders GP G A P Hurricanes Leaders GP G A P
Jake Voracek 50 14 30 44 Jeff Skinner 47 17 18 35
Claude Giroux 50 11 29 40 Victor Rask 48 13 19 32
Wayne Simmonds 50 21 17 38 Sebastian Aho 48 12 14 26
Brayden Schenn 47 15 18 33 Teuvo Teravainen 47 10 14 24
Travis Konecny 49 7 15 22 Jordan Staal 41 10 14 24
 
 
Player to Watch
17 Wayne Simmonds 53 Jeff Skinner
Last 5 Games: 3 G, 1 A, 4 P, -1 Last 5 Games: 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, -3
 
 

Wayne Simmonds wis coming off his first All Star game and with it game MVP honors. Simmonds netted three goals for the Metropolitan division in his All Star debut. Simmonds is a streaky scorer. With three goals in the five games leading up to the break and three more in the game, the hope is he will continue on the current scoring streak. 

 
Jeff Skinner leads the Hurricanes in goals and points even though he has not scored a point in the last five games. Skinner is too good a player to be kept off the score sheet for extended stretches. Pair that with his relative success against the Flyers and you have a recipe for a potential break out game. 
 
Goalie Matchup
35 Steve Mason

30 Cam Ward

16-15-6, 2.84 GAA, .902 SV% 18-16-6, 2.61 GAA, .906 SV%

Steve Mason will get the call for the Flyers tonight. Mason was stellar in his previous two starts leading up to the break including a 30 plus save shutout of the New York Rangers in his last start. He will need to continue that type of play down the stretch if the Flyers hope to hold onto their playoff spot.

Cam Ward will get the start for Carolina. Ward is no longer the goalie he once was. Ward first saw action back in 2004 and has been with the Hurricanes his entire 12 year career. Ward does still have the ability to be a solid netminder and can steal games when needed. The Flyers will need to bring their best if they hope to get the victory.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Dale Weise, Micheal Del Zotto, Nick Schultz

Left Wing Center Right Wing
12 Michael Raffl 28 Claude Giroux 93 Jakub Voracek
11 Travis Konecny 10 Brayden Schenn 17 Wayne Simmonds
25 Nick Cousins 14 Sean Couturier 24 Matt Read
76 Chris VandeVelde 78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare 13 Roman Lyubimov
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 47 Andrew MacDonald  
32 Mark Streit 3 Radko Gudas  
23 Brandon Manning 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
Goalie    
35 Steve Mason    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (9th, 8th on the road), Hurricanes (23rd, 28th at home)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (17th, 24th on the road), Hurricanes (1st, 2nd at home) 
  • Brayden Schenn needs one more goal for 100 in his NHL career.
  • Recent History vs. Carolina
    • 10/22/16: After a scoreless first period the Flyers fell behind 2-0 just 3:07 into the second before they came roaring back. Brandon Manning got the Flyers on the board followed by Jakub Voracek, Matt Read and Shayne Gostisbehere before Lee Stempniak made it 4-3 after two periods. Third period goals by Wayne Simmonds and the second of the game from Voracek ended the night giving the Flyers a 6-3 victory in Philadelphia. Steve Mason made 27 saves for the win.
    • 10/30/16: The Flyers defense would lead the way in the second meeting between the clubs. Gostisbehere, Radko Gudas and Brandon Manning would all score in a 4-3 victory in Carolina. Claude Giroux had the other tally for the Flyers. Michal Neuvirth made 26 saves in the win.

      Where to Watch
      TV: CSN
      Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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