It hasn't been a pretty start to the post-Christmas break for the Flyers, and with the new year upon us, the holiday festivities are completely over. The drive toward the playoffs is on.
Despite the two losses, the Flyers remain locked in a tight race for a playoff spot. It is a fine line. The Flyers are just six points ahead of the NHL's worst team by points, the Columbus Blue Jackets, but they also sit just six points out of a playoff spot.
One of the benefits for the Flyers is their limited schedule leading up to and following the break. Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Kings will be just their fifth in the last two weeks, which leaves them tied for the lowest amount of games played in the East this season, 36, matching only the Toronto Maple Leafs. Of the teams the Flyers are chasing, both in the Metropolitan Division and for the East's wild card spots, six of the eight teams have played two more games than the Flyers.
The Flyers and Kings face off from Staples Center on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.
| Flyers Leaders | GP | G | A | P | Kings Leaders | GP | G | A | P |
| Claude Giroux | 36 | 12 | 17 | 29 | Tyler Toffoli | 37 | 18 | 12 | 30 |
| Jake Voracek | 36 | 4 | 20 | 24 | Jeff Carter | 34 | 11 | 17 | 28 |
| Wayne Simmonds | 36 | 9 | 11 | 20 | Anze Kopitar | 37 | 10 | 18 | 28 |
| Brayden Schenn | 34 | 7 | 8 | 15 | Milan Lucic | 37 | 11 | 12 | 23 |
| Shayne Gostisbehere | 20 | 6 | 8 | 14 | Drew Doughty | 37 | 6 | 17 | 23 |
| Player to Watch | |
| 17 Wayne Simmonds | 73 Tyler Toffoli |
| Last 5 Games: 2 G, 2 A, 4 P, +3 | Last 5 Games: 6 G, 2 A, 8 P, +6 |
| Goalie Matchup | |
| 30 Michal Neuvirth | 32 Jonathan Quick |
| 8-4-2, 2.06 GAA, .937 SV% | 21-9-1, 2.16 GAA, .922 SV% |
Michal Neuvirth was expected to start on Wednesday in San Jose but was under the weather and a last-minute switch. After back-to-back 4-2 losses for Steve Mason, and a penalty kill that struggled with Mason in goal, Neuvirth is the logical option in goal to get his first chance to right the ship for the Flyers. It would be his first start in nearly three weeks.
When you're facing Jonathan Quick, you're getting on of the league's elites. His save percentage and goals against average may be outside of the Top 10 at the moment, but make no mistake, this is one of the NHL's most tested and consistent goalies. The Kings are among the best teams in the West again after a down season, and Quick is a big part with 21 wins in goal, second in the NHL.
Flyers Projected Lineup
Scratches: Brandon Manning, Luke Schenn, Vincent Lecavalier
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| 12 Michael Raffl | 28 Claude Giroux | 10 Brayden Schenn |
| 93 Jake Voracek | 14 Sean Couturier | 17 Wayne Simmonds |
| 76 Chris VandeVelde | 78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare | 25 Ryan White |
| 24 Matt Read | 21 Scott Laughton | 20 R.J. Umberger |
| Defense | ||
| 32 Mark Streit | 55 Nick Schultz | |
| 3 Radko Gudas | 15 Michael Del Zotto | |
| 53 Shayne Gostisbehere | 82 Evgeny Medvedev | |
| Goalie | ||
| 30 Michal Neuvirth |
Despite an injury scare on Wednesday, Chris VandeVelde is expected to play on Saturday and Michael Del Zotto is expected to make a return to the lineup as well. Though not confirmed, Luke Schenn seems to be the odd man out of the lineup with the insertion of Del Zotto. The forward lines remain the same.
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (T-27th, 16th on road), Kings (T-11th, T-23rd at home)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (24th, T-18th on road), Kings (7th, 12th at home)
- Recent History vs. Kings
- Nov. 17, 2015 – The Flyers lost to the Kings, 3-2, in a shootout. Shayne Gostisbehere and Claude Giroux scored for the Flyers, who carried a lead into the final minute of regulation before Milan Lucic tied the game. Anze Kopitar scored the only goal of the shootout. Jonathan Quick made 36 saves. Steve Mason made 38 saves.
- Dec. 6, 2014 – The Flyers defeated the Kings, 2-1, in Los Angeles. Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds scored for the Flyers while Steve Mason made 37 saves in the win. Justin Williams scored the lone goal for the Kings. Jonathan Quick made 14 saves.
- Oct. 28, 2014 – The Flyers defeated the Kings, 3-2, in overtime. Michael Raffl and Chris VandeVelde scored first-period goals before the Kings would tie the game in the third on a goal by former Flyer Mike Richards. Tyler Toffoli also scored a shorthanded goal for the Kings in the first. In overtime, Brayden Schenn scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway. Ray Emery made 38 saves in the win. Jonathan Quick made 40 saves.
- Flyers leaders vs. Kings
- Claude Giroux - 10 games, 3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points
- Wayne Simmonds - 6 games, 2 goals, 1 assists, 3 points
- Jake Voracek – 18 games, 4 goals, 8 assists, 12 points
- Michal Neuvirth - 2 games, 0-1-0, 2.27 GAA, .889 SV%
- Milestone Watch
- Jake Voracek: 4 points to reach 400 for career
- Mark Streit: 7 points to reach 400 for career
Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
