Flyers-Sabres: Game 31 Preview

10-25-2016_FlyersvsSabress_2nd_credKateFrese-8(Kate Frese/SB Nation)
By Rob Riches, Sports Talk Philly staff 

If there's one thing that's always present in the NHL, it's how quickly fortunes can change. Just as quickly as a team finds itself in the drek of a 10-game losing streak, they have a chance to go for five wins in a row.

The Flyers have a chance to do just that tonight, as they welcome the Buffalo Sabres to continue their five-game, pre-holiday homestand. As the Sabres embark on a new era, led by newcomers in Jason Botterill running the show and Hockey Hall of Fame member Phil Housley behind the bench, they sit at last place in the Eastern Conference and just three points shy of last overall — not exactly an auspicious start. 

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Buffalo Sabres GP G A P
Jake Voracek 30 7 30 37 Evander Kane 31 14 14 28
Claude Giroux 30 13 21 34 Jack Eichel 31 8 16 24
Sean Couturier  30 15 15 30 Ryan O'Reilly 31 14 7 21
Shayne Gostisbehere 27 4 18 22 Jason Pominville 31 8 8 16
Wayne Simmonds 30 10 9 19 Kyle Okposo 29 8 5 13
Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux 15 Jack Eichel
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 4 A, 6 P, +1 Last 5 Games: 1 G, 4 A, 5 P, -3
 
Though it was Sean Couturier that potted the go-ahead goal on Tuesday against Toronto, it was Claude Giroux's seemingly impossible through-the-legs pass from along the boards that made it all possible. The Flyers captain enters tonight's game with a three-game point streak, all of which have been multi-point games. He'll look to add to that tonight, and his odds are decent — in 30 career games against the Sabres, he has five goals and 27 points.
 
Taken with the second pick in the 2015 draft, Jack Eichel has been looking to establish himself as one of the NHL's premier younger talents, but it hasn't been the easiest go for him. Then again, it's never easy when you're the player taken immediately after Connor McDavid. Eichel recently put pen to paper on an eight-year deal that would pay him $10 million per season, and as the Sabres embark on this rebuild, it's more than clear that it's centered around him.
 
Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 40 Robin Lehner
10-6-6, 2.76 GAA, .912 SV% 7-12-4, 2.87 GAA, .911 SV%

With Michal Neuvirth still out of commission, look for Brian Elliott to make his sixth consecutive start and 14th over the past 15 games. He didn't face the biggest workload in the game against the Maple Leafs, seeing only 22 shots — but he did turn 20 of them aside. 

Robin Lehner is presumed to take the net for the Sabres tonight. Entering his third season with the organization, Lehner's been their horse this season, starting 22 of their 31 games. Though he hasn't been given too much to work with in front of him this season (sound familiar?), he turned in a 24-save effort against Ottawa on Tuesday, helping the Sabres take a 3-2 win.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Brandon Manning is still battling a hand injury, while Michal Neuvirth's leg injury is still keeping him out of action.

Scratches: Mark Alt, Jori Lehtera

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl 51 Valtteri Filppula 93 Jake Voracek
40 Jordan Weal 19 Nolan Patrick 22 Dale Weise
20 Taylor Leier 21 Scott Laughton 11 Travis Konecny
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 47 Andrew MacDonald  
8 Robert Hagg 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
6 Travis Sanheim 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
37 Brian Elliott    

Lineup Notes: With Neuvirth hurt, Alex Lyon will serve as the backup netminder

Leafs Projected Lineup

Injuries: Auston Matthews has a left hand injury and it is unclear if he will return to the Leafs lineup. Joffrey Lupul has been deemed unfit to play and is on the LTIR.

 
Left Wing Center Right Wing
67 Benoit Pouliot 15 Jack Eichel 29 Jason Pominville
28 Zemgus Girgensons 90 Ryan O'Reilly 21 Kyle Okposo
9 Evander Kane 71 Evan Rodrigues 23 Sam Reinhart
20 Scott Wilson 22 Johann Larsson 17 Jordan Nolan
Defense    
6 Marco Scandella 55 Rasmus Ristolainen  
19 Jake McCabe 47 Zach Bogosian  
4 Josh Gorges 41 Justin Falk  
Goalie    
40 Robin Lehner    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (16th, 28th at home), Leafs (30th, 22nd on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (29th, 29th at home), Leafs (15th, 28th on road)
  • Recent History vs. Leafs
    • March 7, 2017 – Flyers 6, Sabres 3 (in BUF)
    • Jan. 10, 2017 – Sabres 4, Flyers 1 (in BUF)
    • Oct. 25, 2016 – Flyers 4, Sabres 3 – F/OT (in PHI)

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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