Flyers-Wild: Game 17 Preview

11-12-2016_FlyersvsWild_3rd_credKateFrese

(Kate Frese/SB Nation)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers are in the middle of a long stretch of games against Western Conference opponents. They'll get to know the Minnesota Wild pretty well over the next few days.

The Flyers host the Wild on Saturday night in the first of a home-and-home that wraps up on the road on Tuesday night next week.

Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Minnesota Wild GP G A P
Jake Voracek 16 4 17 21 Jason Zucker 15 8 5 13
Claude Giroux 16 9 11 20 Eric Staal 15 5 7 12
Sean Couturier 16 10 9 19 Jared Spurgeon 15 2 8 10
Shayne Gostisbehere 13 1 14 15 Ryan Suter 15 2 7 9
Wayne Simmonds 16 6 5 11 Chris Stewart 15 6 2 8
 
Player to Watch
93 Jake Voracek 16 Jason Zucker
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 3 A, 5 P, +3 Last 5 Games: 5 G, 1 A, 6 P, +4
 
Jake Voracek has been one of the Flyers best players this season as part of the first line that has been lighting it up lately. Voracek had a three-point game on Thursday and has goals in his last two games.
 
The hottest scorer on the Wild is by far Jason Zucker. Entering Minnesota's game on Wednesday night, Zucker had three goals and five assists on the season. He's scored five goals in the last two games, including all three goals for Minnesota in Thursday night's win over the Canadiens. 
 
Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 40 Devan Dubnyk
6-3-1, 2.90 GAA, .903 SV% 5-6-1, 2.77 GAA, .914 SV%

After arguably his best start as a Flyer, making 38 saves on 39 shots, Brian Elliott gets the call again on Saturday night against Minnesota. Elliott makes his 11th start of the season, with wins in six of those starts so far.

Devan Dubnyk snapped a three-game losing streak in a big way, making 41 saves in a 3-0 shutout win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. Dubnyk is back between the pipes for the Wild for the sixth straight game.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Andrew MacDonald (lower-body), Nolan Patrick (upper-body)

Scratches: Matt Read, Mark Alt

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
11 Travis Konecny 51 Valtteri Filppula 17 Wayne Simmonds
40 Jordan Weal 15 Jori Lehtera 22 Dale Weise
20 Taylor Leier 21 Scott Laughton 12 Michael Raffl
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 8 Robert Hagg  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 23 Brandon Manning  
6 Travis Sanheim 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
37 Brian Elliott    

Lineup Notes

The Flyers will have the same lineup as in Thursday night's win over the Blackhawks. 

Wild Projected Lineup

Injuries: Zach Parise, Charlie Coyle, Alex Stalock

Scratches: Gustav Olofsson

Left Wing Center Right Wing
63 Tyler Ennis 9 Mikko Koivu 64 Mikael Granlund
22 Nino Niederreiter 12 Eric Staal 16 Jason Zucker
26 Daniel Winnik 14 Joel Eriksson Ek 19 Luke Kunin
17 Marcus Foligno 7 Matt Cullen 10 Chris Stewart 
Defense    
20 Ryan Suter 46 Jared Spurgeon  
25 Joonas Brodin 24 Mathew Dumba  
27 Kyle Quincey 4 Mike Reilly  
Goalie    
40 Devan Dubnyk    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (13th, 15th at home), Wild (20th, 11th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (T-21st, 25th at home), Wild (T-9th, 20th on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Wild
    • Nov. 12, 2016 – Flyers 3, Wild 2
    • March 23, 2017 – Flyers 3, Wild 1
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Wild
    • Jake Voracek – 19 GP, 3 G, 14 A, 17 P
    • Wayne Simmonds – 21 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 P
    • Claude Giroux – 11 GP, 3 G, 3 A, 6 P
    • Brian Elliott – 13 GP, 9-2-0, 2.07 GAA
  • Milestone Watch
    • Claude Giroux needs five points to reach 600 for his career and seven points to pass Rod Brind'Amour for 8th on the Flyers all-time list.

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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