Flyers-Penguins: Game 39 Preview

By Rob Riches, Sports Talk Philly staff 

New year, new Flyers? We'll see.

After a roller-coaster 2017 calendar year that mainly saw the Flyers plagued by consistent inconsistency, they turn over the calendar with a matchup against cross-state rival Pittsburgh. If there's a better way to open the year up, especially with the first half of the season getting ready to wrap up, I haven't seen it.

Both teams enter tonight's matchup neck-and-neck in the standings — certainly not what most of us expected at the start of the year. The Flyers sit at dead last in the Metro with 40 points, and the Pens are just a point ahead. With an Eastern Conference- and division-heavy slate set over the second half, tonight's a game with substantial implications for the Orange and Black.

Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Pittsburgh Penguins GP G A P
Claude Giroux 38 13 33 46 Phil Kessel 40 16 26 42
Jakub Voracek 38 8 38 46 Evgeni Malkin 36 14 24 36
Sean Couturier 38 18 18 36 Sidney Crosby 40 14 21 35
Shayne Gostisbehere 35 8 21 29 Kris Letang 37 2 23 25
Wayne Simmonds 38 12 11 23 Patric Hornqvist 36 12 12 24
 
Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux 71 Evgeni Malkin 
Last 5 Games: 0 G, 10 A, 10 P, +2 Last 5 Games: 3 G, 2 A, 5 P, -6
 
After a 5-3 win in Tampa that saw the Flyers captain spread the wealth with three assists, Claude Giroux enters this game with a seven-game point streak, as well as points in 10 of his last 11 games. He's recorded multiple points in three games during this streak, and with 14 goals and 43 points in 41 games against the Penguins, he'll look to add to it.
 
Always a threat with the puck, Evgeni Malkin comes in with goals in three of his last five games — including the lone goal in their last game, a 3-1 loss to Detroit on Sunday. 
 
Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 35 Tristan Jarry
14-9-7, 2.62 GAA, .914 SV% 9-9-4, 3.15 GAA, .908 SV%

The Flyers' workhorse throughout much of December, Brian Elliott returns to the cage for the Flyers. This will be his 14th consecutive start. In both teams' prior meeting on Nov. 27, Elliott had the puck firing on him at all angles, turning in 47 saves on 52 shots in a 5-4 overtime loss. 

Tristan Jarry will get the nod for Pittsburgh, in a bit of a surprise move, over Matt Murray. He recently stopped 31 of 33 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Hurricanes. 

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: none

Scratches: Travis Sanheim, Taylor Leier

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 11 Travis Konecny
12 Michael Raffl 51 Valtteri Filppula 93 Jake Voracek
40 Jordan Weal 19 Nolan Patrick 17 Wayne Simmonds
15 Jori Lehtera 21 Scott Laughton 22 Dale Weise
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
8 Robert Hagg 47 Andrew MacDonald  
23 Brandon Manning 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
37 Brian Elliott    

Lineup Notes

Travis Sanheim will miss his second consecutive game. Brandon Manning will play in his second consecutive game since returning from injury, and will look to build off his goal against Tampa Bay.

Penguins Projected Lineup

Injuries: 

Scratches: Bryan Rust, Dominik Simon, Frank Corrado, Matt Hunwick, Chad Ruhwedel

Left Wing Center Right Wing
43 Conor Sheary 87 Sidney Crosby 72 Patric Hornqvist
62 Carl Hagelin 71 Evgeni Malkin 81 Phil Kessel
59 Jake Guentzel 15 Riley Sheahan 41 Daniel Sprong
34 Tom Kuhnhackl 37 Carter Rowney 75 Ryan Reaves
Defense    
8 Brian Dumoulin 58 Kris Letang  
28 Ian Cole 4 Justin Schultz  
3 Olli Maatta 6 Jamie Oleksiak  
Goalie    
35 Tristan Jarry    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (14th, 23rd at home), Penguins (3rd, 1st on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (29th, 30th at home), Penguins (15th, 14th on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Penguins
    • Nov. 27, 2017 – Penguins 5, Flyers 4 – F/OT (at PIT)
    • March 26, 2017 – Flyers 6, Penguins 2 (at PIT)
    • March 15, 2017 – Flyers 4, Penguins 0 (at PHI)
    • Feb. 25, 2017 – Penguins 4, Flyers 2 (at PIT/Heinz Field)
  • Milestone Watch:
    • Claude Giroux is six games away from 600 in his career, and seven goals away from 200.
    • Andrew MacDonald is four games away from 500 in his career.

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

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