Flyers-Blackhawks: Game 13 Preview

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers	GP	G	A	P	Chicago Blackhawks	GP	G	A	P
Jake Voracek	12	2	14	16	Patrick Kane	12	5	7	12
Sean Couturier	12	9	6	15	Ryan Hartman	12	4	6	10
Claude Giroux	12	6	8	14	Brandon Saad	12	6	3	9
Wayne Simmonds	12	6	3	9	Richard Panik	12	5	3	8
Valtteri Filppula	12	5	3	8	Jonathan Toews	12	3	5	8

 

Player to Watch
14 Sean Couturier	38 Ryan Hartman
Last 5 Games: 5 G, 3 A, 8 P, +1	Last 5 Games: 1 G, 0 A, 1 P, E

 

There is no Flyer on more of a hot streak than Sean Couturier. The Flyers top-line center scored twice in Monday's overtime loss to Arizona, bringing his season total to nine goals and 15 points. He has five goals in his last four games.

 

Usually when you think of the Blackhawks, you think of the typical names from their three Stanley Cup titles, but Ryan Hartman is one that has stood out early in the season. Hartman has just one goal in the last five games, but is second on the Blackhawks in points with 10 on the season while playing on the fourth line. 

 

Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott	50 Corey Crawford
5-2-1, 3.23 GAA, .884 SV%	5-4-0, 2.12 GAA, .935 SV%

Brian Elliott is back in net for the Flyers on Wednesday night. Elliott suffered the loss in overtime on Monday night, bringing his overall season record to 5-2-1. It's been all good or all bad with Elliott. In his five wins, he's posted a 2.00 GAA. In the three losses, he's posted a 5.33 GAA.

Corey Crawford gets the start for the Blackhawks as expected. Crawford entered the Blackhawks last game in relief, making seven saves on eight shots against Colorado on Saturday. He has also lost three of his last four starts and allowed four goals in two of those games.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Andrew MacDonald (lower-body, 4-6 weeks), Shayne Gostisbehere (upper-body, day-to-day), Nolan Patrick (upper-body, day-to-day)

Scratches: Matt Read, Will O'Neil

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux	14 Sean Couturier	93 Jake Voracek
40 Jordan Weal	51 Valtteri Filppula	17 Wayne Simmonds
22 Dale Weise	15 Jori Lehtera	11 Travis Konecny
20 Taylor Leier	21 Scott Laughton	12 Michael Raffl
Defense
9 Ivan Provorov	8 Robert Hagg
6 Travis Sanheim	3 Radko Gudas
23 Brandon Manning	39 Mark Alt
Goalie
37 Brian Elliott

Lineup Notes

With the injuries to Shayne Gostisbehere and Andrew MacDonald, the Flyers will roll the same defensive pairings as on Monday with Mark Alt still in the lineup. Will O'Neil was also recalled from the Phantoms as the extra defenseman and will serve as a healthy scratch.

The Flyers will be making a change at forward though. Matt Read comes out of the lineup and Dale Weise returns, playing on the third line with Jori Lehtera and Travis Konecny.

Blackhawks Projected Lineup

Injuries: Gustav Forsling, Michal Rozsival, Jordin Tootoo, Marian Hossa

Scratches: Tanner Kero, Jordan Oesterle

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
12 Alex DeBrincat	19 Jonathan Toews	14 Richard Panik
20 Brandon Saad	8 Nick Schmaltz	88 Patrick Kane
10 Patrick Sharp	15 Artem Anisimov	40 John Hayden
17 Lance Bouma	57 Tommy Wingels	38 Ryan Hartman
Defense
2 Duncan Keith	11 Cody Franson
44 Jan Rutta	7 Brent Seabrook
6 Michal Kempny	5 Connor Murphy
Goalie
50 Corey Crawford

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (8th, T-10th on road), Blackhawks (28th, T-29th at home)
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (20th, T-21st on road), Blackhawks (T-13th, 22nd at home) 
• Recent History vs. Blackhawks
  • Oct. 18, 2016 – Blackhawks 7, Flyers 4
  • Dec. 3, 2016 – Flyers 3, Blackhawks 1
• Flyers Leaders vs. Blackhawks
  • Claude Giroux – 12 GP, 3 G, 13 A, 16 P
  • Ivan Provorov – 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 2 P
  • Jake Voracek – 26 GP, 5 G, 14 A, 19 P
  • Brian Elliott – 18 GP, 7-8-1, 2.49 GAA
• Milestone Watch
  • Wayne Simmonds needs one assist to reach 200 for his career. Simmonds is also playing in his 700th NHL game.

Where to Watch
TV: NBCSN
Radio: 93.3 WMMR