Preseason Game 7 Preview: Flyers-Bruins

By Dan Heaning, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 

As the preseason draws to a close and the regular season looms, the last two preseason games for the Philadelphia Flyers loom large for those wishing to crack the opening night lineup.

The likes of Scott Laughton, Sam Morin, Travis Sanheim and even veterans Matt Read will need to pull ahead of the pack starting tonight at 7 p.m. against the Boston Bruins at the Wells Fargo Center in order to do so.

The Flyers look to be utilizing Claude Giroux on the left wing again on a line with Sean Couturier and Jake Voracek. Meanwhile, Nolan Patrick continues to get looks with Wayne Simmonds and Jordan Weal, a trio that has showed some chemistry during the preseason.

It appears Travis Konecny, who scored the game-winner against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, will play with Valtteri Filppula and Dale Weise while Laughton, Read and Jori Lehtera will round out the fourth line.

On the blue line, Sanheim was paired with Ivan Provorov in practice so look for that pairing during tonight’s game. Morin should be partnered up with Shayne Gostisbehere while veterans Brandon Manning and Radko Gudas finish off the defensive pairings.

Alex Lyon, recalled before the game from the Phantoms, will start. Michal Neuvirth was originally slated to start but is sick and Brian Elliott is away from the team on Thursday to attend his induction into the Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame.

The Flyers projected lines are below:

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
40 Jordan Weal 64 Nolan Patrick 17 Wayne Simmonds
11 Travis Konecny 51 Valtteri Filppula 22 Dale Weise
15 Jori Lehtera 21 Scott Laughton 24 Matt Read
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 57 Travis Sanheim  
23 Brandon Manning 3 Radko Gudas  
50 Sam Morin 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
Goalie    
49 Alex Lyon    

Oskar Lindblom, Taylor Leier, Michael Raffl, Andrew MacDonald and Robert Hagg are scratches for Thursday's game.

The Flyers and Bruins met last week in Boston. Even though the Orange and Black dressed mostly NHLers in the game, they fell to the Bruins 2-1 in overtime.

They will be dressing a similar lineup on Thursday night. The Bruins lineup for the game on Thursday is below:

Forwards: Kenny Agostino, David Backes, Patrice Bergeron, Anders Bjork, Jake DeBrusk, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, David Krejci, Sean Kuraly, Danton Heinen, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Frank Vatrano

Defensemen: Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk, Charlie McAvoy, Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller, Rob O'Gara, Paul Postma

Goalies: Tuukka Rask, Malcolm Subban

Where to Watch
TV: CSN

Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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