Flyers-Penguins: Round 1, Game 1 Preview

3-7-2018_FlyersvsPens_2ndedit_credKateFrese-27

(Kate Frese/SB Nation)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It all starts tonight — Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Flyers are getting a tough draw in the defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champions in the first round, but the Battle of Pennsylvania is always entertaining and should make for a great series. Game 1 opens in Pittsburgh, as the Penguins quest for a three-peat begins.

The puck drops on Game 1 at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders (Regular Season Totals)

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Pittsburgh Penguins GP G A P
Claude Giroux 82 34 68 102 Evgeni Malkin 78 42 56 98
Jake Voracek 82 20 65 85 Phil Kessel 82 34 58 92
Sean Couturier 82 31 45 76 Sidney Crosby 82 29 60 89
Shayne Gostisbehere 78 13 52 65 Kris Letang 79 9 42 50
Travis Konecny 81 24 23 47 Patric Hornqvist 70 29 20 49
 
Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux 87 Sidney Crosby
Last 5 Games: 8 G, 2 A, 10 P, +11 Last 5 Games: 2 G, 3 A, 5 P, E
 
Is there any doubt that Claude Giroux has been the hottest player in the NHL of late? In the final week of the season, Giroux had seven goals and nine points. He had eight goals in the final five games to finish with 34 goals and 102 points on the season, both career highs. Giroux has also been making things happen even without picking up points. Giroux was on the ice for all five goals on Saturday and was a plus-4.
 
Sidney Crosby has not been the hottest player for the Penguins in the last week of the season or even for the entire season, but he's always dangerous and rises to a new level in the playoffs. That will be no different in the Battle of Pennsylvania. Crosby has a ridiculous 93 points in 63 games against the Flyers in his career.
 
Goalie Matchup (Regular Season Totals)
37 Brian Elliott 30 Matt Murray
23-11-7, 2.66 GAA, .909 SV% 27-16-3, 2.92 GAA, .907 SV%

It will be Brian Elliott in goal for Game 1 for the Flyers. Elliott was projected to be the team's No. 1 goalie all along, but spent seven weeks on the shelf with an injury and recovering from core muscle surgery. Elliott returned for the final two games of the regular season and picked up wins in both, including a 17-save shutout in the regular-season finale on Saturday.

Matt Murray has been at the center of the Penguins two Stanley Cup runs in the last two years, but this is the first time he is starting Game 1 of the opening series. Murray had a solid season with 27 win and a 2.92 GAA, but has been known to allow goals against the Flyers. In eight career starts against the Flyers, Murray has a 3.00 GAA.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Michal Neuvirth

Scratches: Dale Weise, Jordan Weal, Taylor Leier, Robert Hagg, Johnny Oduya

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 12 Michael Raffl
54 Oskar Lindblom 19 Nolan Patrick 93 Jake Voracek
11 Travis Konecny 51 Valtteri Filppula 17 Wayne Simmonds
21 Scott Laughton 15 Jori Lehtera 24 Matt Read
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
6 Travis Sanheim 47 Andrew MacDonald  
23 Brandon Manning 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
37 Brian Elliott    

Lineup Notes

The Flyers make no changes to the lineup from Saturday's playoff-clinching win to Game 1 on Wednesday.

Penguins Projected Lineup

Scratches: Josh Jooris, Carter Rowney, Dominik Simon, Chad Ruhwedel

Left Wing Center Right Wing
59 Jake Guentzel 87 Sidney Crosby 17 Bryan Rust
62 Carl Hagelin 71 Evgeni Malkin 72 Patric Hornqvist
43 Conor Sheary 19 Derick Brassard 81 Phil Kessel
34 Tom Kuhnhackl 15 Riley Sheahan 46 Zach Aston-Reese
Defense    
8 Brian Dumoulin 58 Kris Letang  
3 Olli Maatta 4 Justin Schultz  
22 Matt Hunwick 6 Jamie Oleksiak  
Goalie    
30 Matt Murray    

Game Notes***

  • Power Play: Flyers (15th, 4th on road), Penguins (1st, T-1st at home)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (29th, 24th on road), Penguins (17th, 21st at home) 
  • Recent History vs. Penguins
    • Nov. 27, 2017 – Penguins 5, Flyers 4 (OT) (at PIT)
    • Jan. 2, 2018 – Penguins 5, Flyers 1 (at PHI)
    • March 7, 2018 – Penguins 5, Flyers 2 (at PHI)
    • March 25, 2018 – Penguins 5, Flyers 4 (OT) (at PIT)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Penguins
    • Claude Giroux – 44 GP, 14 G, 31 A, 45 P
    • Jake Voracek – 36 GP, 18 G, 17 A, 35 P
    • Wayne Simmonds – 32 GP, 13 G, 11 A, 24 P
    • Brian Elliott – 13 GP, 7-3-2, 2.88 GAA, .918 SV%
  • Penguins Leaders vs. Flyers
    • Sidney Crosby – 63 GP, 38 G, 55 A, 93 P
    • Evgeni Malkin – 53 GP, 26 G, 42 A, 68 P
    • Phil Kessel – 43 GP, 9 G, 19 A, 28 P
    • Matt Murray – 8 GP, 3-2-0, 3.00 GAA, .912 SV%

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia/NBCSN
Radio: 93.3 WMMR

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