Flyers-Blue Jackets: Game 64 Preview

 

 

The Philadelphia Flyers (29-23-11) hit the ice for an important matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets (27-30-8). This is the fifth game of a six game homestand for Philadelphia. The Flyers are 3-1-0 through the first four games. Game time from the Wells Fargo Center is 7:00.

 

This is the third of four meetings with Columbus this season. The Blue Jackets have beaten the Flyers in both games this season. They easily dispatched of the Flyers 4-1 in Philly in early December and followed that up with a shootout victory in Columbus a little over a week later

 

Player to Watch
21 Scott Laughton	43 Scott Hartnell
Last 5 Games: 2G, 0A, 2Pts, +2	Last 5 Games: 2G, 2A, 4Pts, Even

 

Scott Laughton has seen a dramatic improvement in his play since being moved to the wing alongside Nick Cousins. With Matt Read on the other wing, the Flyers third line has proven to be a more than serviceable threesome. They all get after the puck and are defensively responsible. Coming down the stretch and chasing a playoff spot, this line will need to continue to improve and chip in offensively.

 

Scott Hartnell is having another solid season. The former Flyers winger leads the Blue Jackets with 43 points. His 21 goals are tied for third and his 22 assists are good for second. His line of Alexander Wennberg and Nick Foligno will be the primary focus for the Flyers defense.

 

Goalie Matchup
35 Steve Mason	30 Curtis McElhinney
13-15-7, 2.70 GAA, .915 SV%	2-6-3, 3.10 GAA, .895 SV%

Steve Mason will return to the net tonight for Philadelphia. Mason has not appeared in a game since leaving in the Early stages of the third period in Toronto a few weeks ago. With almost a two week layoff, the Mason will try to not show signs of rust in a must win game for Philadelphia

Curtis McElhinney will get the start for Columbus. The Jackets are coming off a 6-3 win over Edmonton on Friday. Jonas Korpisalo picked up the win and will get the night off tonight. 

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Jakub Voracek, R.J. Umberger, Evgeny Medvedev, Jordan Weal, Micheal Del Zotto

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
10 Brayden Schenn	28 Claude Giroux	17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl	14 Sean Couturier	89 Sam Gagner
76 Chris VandeVelde	78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare	25 Ryan White
21 Scott Laughton	52 Nick Cousins	24 Matt Read
Defense
47 Andrew MacDonald	53 Shayne Gostisbehere
32 Mark Streit	55 Nick Schultz
23 Brandon Manning	3 Radko Gudas
Goalie
35 Steve Mason

Brandon Manning looks to return to the lineup in place of Evgeny Medvedev. The forward lines should remain the same as the last few games. 

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (15th, 21st at home), Jackets (18th, 11th on road) 
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (22nd, 21st at home), Jackets (17th, 21st on road)
• The Flyers are 9-11-3 all time against the Jackets including a 7-4-1 record at home.

Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074.