Flyers-Oilers: Game 63 Preview

Flyers Leaders	GP	G	A	P	Oilers Leaders	GP	G	A	P
Claude Giroux	59	17	37	54	Taylor Hall	65	20	34	54
Jakub Voracek	60	10	38	48	Leon Draisaitl	55	16	28	44
Wayne Simmonds	62	23	20	43	Jordan Eberle	52	20	19	39
Brayden Schenn	60	21	21	42	Benoit Pouliot	55	14	22	36
Shayne Gostisbehere	44	12	23	35	Teddy Purcell	61	11	21	32

 

Player to Watch
53 Shayne Gostisbehere	97 Connor McDavid
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 1 A, 2 P, +3	Last 5 Games: 2 G, 2 A, 4 P, +2

 

After three games off the scoresheet since his 15-game points streak ended, Shayne Gostisbehere picked up an assist in the Flyers win over the Flames on Monday. In a match that already features one extraordinary rookie talent, Gostisbehere may find the spotlight in his own right.

 

Connor McDavid scored the only two goals for Edmonton in their 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, continuing his strong return since he suffered an injury against the Flyers on Nov. 3. Since his return on Feb. 2, he hasn't missed a beat, scoring seven goals and adding 12 assists for 17 points in 15 games.

 

Goalie Matchup
30 Michal Neuvirth	33 Cam Talbot
16-7-4, 2.22 GAA, .927 SV%	14-22-4, 2.60 GAA, .915 SV%

It's Michal Neuvirth again for the Flyers. The netminder makes his seventh start in the last eight games. With the exception of a rough night in Carolina, Neuvirth has remained steady in net for the Flyers.

Already familiar with the Flyers from his days as the Rangers backup, the Oilers turn to now starter Cam Talbot. Talbot is 2-2-0 in his career against the Flyers, but has stellar numbers, with a 1.26 GAA and .957 save percentage.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Brandon Manning, R.J. Umberger, Jordan Weal, Jake Voracek, Michael 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
21 Scott Laughton	52 Nick Cousins	24 Matt Read
76 Chris VandeVelde	78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare	25 Ryan White
Defense
47 Andrew MacDonald	53 Shayne Gostisbehere
55 Nick Schultz	32 Mark Streit
82 Evgeny Medvedev	3 Radko Gudas
Goalie
30 Michal Neuvirth

The Flyers lineup remains the same as it did on Monday with Evgeny Medvedev in for Brandon Manning. 

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (13th, T-16th at home), Oilers (27th, 18th on road)
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (23rd, 22nd at home), Oilers (18th, T-23rd on road) 
• Recent History vs. Oilers
  • Nov. 4, 2014 – The Flyers defeated the Oilers, 4-1, at Wells Fargo Center. Jake Voracek scored twice in the first period and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored early in the second to open a 3-0 lead. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the lone goal for the Oilers in the second before Luke Schenn answered with a goal at 12:01 of the second. Steve Mason made 35 saves in the win.
  • March 21, 2015 – The Flyers fell to the Oilers in overtime, 5-4, in Edmonton. The Flyers opened a 3-1 first-period lead with two goals by Claude Giroux and one from Ryan White before the Oilers rallied to tie the game in the final 3:45 of the period. The Flyers trailed, 4-3, going to the third before Michael Raffl tied the game 46 second into the period. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored the game-winner at 2:46 of overtime for his second of the game.
  • Nov. 3, 2015 – The Flyers suffered a 4-2 loss in Edmonton. After Connor McDavid left with injury, the Flyers carried a 2-1 lead into the third with goals from Ryan White and Scott Laughton. The Oilers struck for three goals in the third getting goals from Matt Hendricks, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Michal Neuvirth made 45 saves in the loss.
• Flyers leaders vs. Oilers
• Claude Giroux – 8 games, 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points
• Scott Laughton – 1 game, 1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point
• Sam Gagner – 6 games, 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points
• Michal Neuvirth – 3 games, 1-2-0, 2.70 GAA, .938 Sv% 

Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.