Flyers-Sharks: Game 56 Preview

Kevin Durso

February 11 2017

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor

Just like last season, the Flyers head into mid-February chasing a playoff spot. They are riding a three-game losing streak again, but this season is a little different than last.

Last season, the Flyers were always chasing the playoff spot. This season, they had a hold on one for much of December and January only to lose the spot with their loss on Thursday to the Islanders. Now the San Jose Sharks come to town for the final game of what has been a disappointing five-game homestand.

The opening face-off is set for 1 p.m.

Flyers Leaders	GP	G	A	P	Devils Leaders	GP	G	A	P
Jake Voracek	55	14	32	46	Brent Burns	55	22	35	57
Claude Giroux	55	12	29	41	Joe Pavelski	55	18	29	47
Wayne Simmonds	55	22	17	39	Logan Couture	54	19	19	38
Brayden Schenn	52	16	19	35	Joe Thornton	55	4	30	34
Ivan Provorov	55	4	18	22	Patrick Marleau	55	19	13	32

Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux	88 Brent Burns
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 0 A, 1 P, -5	Last 5 Games: 1 G, 5 A, 6 P, +2

Claude Giroux opened admitted on Friday that he, like the rest of the team, has to be better. A clearly frustrated Giroux can put his money where his mouth is on Saturday by making an impact on this game.

Forget being the player to watch in this game, Brent Burns has been one to watch throughout the entire league this season. The Sharks leading defenseman is making a case for the Hart Trophy this season with some stellar offensive play.

Goalie Matchup
30 Michal Neuvirth	30 Aaron Dell
8-5-1, 2.79 GAA, .893 SV%	6-3-0, 2.05 GAA, .928 SV%

Michal Neuvirth returns to the net for the Flyers on Saturday.

Aaron Dell, the Sharks rookie backup, stymied the aflyers for a 21-save shutout in December. He gets the start on Saturday.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Travis Konecny, Michael Del Zotto, Roman Lyubimov, Nick Schultz

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
10 Brayden Schenn	28 Claude Giroux	17 Wayne Simmonds
19 Jordan Weal	14 Sean Couturier	93 Jake Voracek
12 Michael Raffl	25 Nick Cousins	24 Matt Read
76 Chris VandeVelde	78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare	22 Dale Weise
Defense
32 Mark Streit	53 Shayne Gostisbehere
9 Ivan Provorov	47 Andrew MacDonald
3 Radko Gudas	23 Brandon Manning
Goalie
30 Michal Neuvirth

Game Notes

Power Play: Flyers (T-9th, 9th at home), Sharks (T-19th, 25th on road)
Penalty Kill: Flyers (T-17th, 10th at home), Sharks (19th, 15th on road)
Recent History vs. Sharks
- Dec. 30, 2016 - The Flyers suffered a 2-0 loss to the Sharks in San Jose. Patrick Marleau scored on the power play in the first to give San Jose the lead. The lead held up until the third, when Justin Braun scored to pad the lead by a goal and essentially seal the win for the Sharks. Aaron Dell made 21 saves to pick up his first NHL shutout.
Flyers leaders vs. Sharks