Flyers-Penguins: Round 1, Game 5 Preview

4-18-2018_FlyersvsPens_3rd_playoffs_firstround_credKateFrese-15

(Kate Frese/SB Nation)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It's do or die time for the Flyers. After another embarrassing effort on home ice in Game 4, the Flyers will need to find a way to win again in Pittsburgh on Friday night, or the season will come to an end.

It's a tall task to try to beat the defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champions in three straight games, but all the Flyers can do is focus on Friday and deliver a better effort. That, of course, is easier said than done when the powerhouse Penguins are playing in their home building with a chance to advance on the line.

Game time for Game 5 is set for 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Pittsburgh Penguins GP G A P
Sean Couturier 3 1 2 3 Sidney Crosby 4 5 4 9
Ivan Provorov 4 0 2 2 Jake Guentzel 4 1 6 7
Nolan Patrick 4 1 1 2 Evgeni Malkin 4 3 2 5
Jake Voracek 4 0 2 2 Brian Dumoulin 4 1 4 5
Travis Konecny 4 1 0 1 Kris Letang 4 1 3 4
 
Player to Watch
19 Nolan Patrick 87 Sidney Crosby
In Series: 1 G, 1 A, 2 P, -4 In Series: 5 G, 4 A, 9 P, +8
 
It shouldn't be the case in a playoff series, but the Flyers youngest forward has been their best consistently over two rather lousy and lackluster home games. Nolan Patrick has been one of the few Flyers up on his skates trying to create offense. He's also one of just four Flyers with more than one point in the series.
 
If Sidney Crosby is on the ice, things are happening for the Penguins. Crosby has goals in all three Pittsburgh wins and really could have easily scored in Game 2 but missed on a couple of glorious opportunities. With the chance to move on to the second round in sight, expect Crosby to be his usual self and have a tremendous game. He's been the best player in the series so far without question.
 
Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 30 Matt Murray
1-3, 4.75 GAA, .856 SV% 3-1, 1.27 GAA, .948 SV%

Brian Elliott was pulled for the second time in the series in Game 4 with Michal Neuvirth coming on in relief. The Flyers have stuck with Elliott throughout the season and the expectation here is that they will again.

Matt Murray continued to boost his postseason numbers with another shutout in Game 4. In the Penguins three wins in the series, Murray has allowed just one goal. He allowed four in the Flyers Game 2 win, but his overall numbers for the series — a 1.27 GAA and .948 save percentage — speak for themselves.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Sean Couturier

Scratches: Dale Weise, Taylor Leier, Robert Hagg, Johnny Oduya, Petr Mrazek

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 51 Valtteri Filppula 93 Jake Voracek
54 Oskar Lindblom 19 Nolan Patrick 11 Travis Konecny
24 Matt Read 15 Jori Lehtera 17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl 21 Scott Laughton 40 Jordan Weal
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 47 Andrew MacDonald  
8 Robert Hagg 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
23 Brandon Manning 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
37 Brian Elliott    

Lineup Notes

The big question remains if Sean Couturier will play in Game 5. He did not practice on Thursday, but said he is day-to-day and did not rule out playing on Friday. If Couturier cannot play, the above lines were the ones used at practice on Thursday. If he can play, he'll slot back into the top-line center role and Valtteri Filppula will likely drop back to the third line.

Penguins Projected Lineup

Injuries: Patric Hornqvist, Carter Rowney

Scratches: Josh Jooris, Matt Hunwick

Left Wing Center Right Wing
59 Jake Guentzel 87 Sidney Crosby 12 Dominik Simon
62 Carl Hagelin 71 Evgeni Malkin 81 Phil Kessel
43 Conor Sheary 19 Derick Brassard 17 Bryan Rust
34 Tom Kuhnhackl 15 Riley Sheahan 46 Zach Aston-Reese
Defense    
8 Brian Dumoulin 58 Kris Letang  
3 Olli Maatta 4 Justin Schultz  
6 Jamie Oleksiak 2 Chad Ruhwedel  
Goalie    
30 Matt Murray    

Game Notes (Regular-Season Totals)

  • Power Play: Flyers (15th, 4th on road), Penguins (1st, T-1st at home)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (29th, 24th on road), Penguins (17th, 21st at home) 
  • First-Round Series Results
    • April 11, 2018 (Game 1) – Penguins 7, Flyers 0 (at PIT)
    • April 13, 2018 (Game 2) – Flyers 5, Penguins 1 (at PIT)
    • April 15, 2018 (Game 3) – Penguins 5, Flyers 1 (at PHI)
    • April 18, 2018 (Game 4) – Penguins 5, Flyers 0 (at PHI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Penguins
    • Claude Giroux – 44 GP, 14 G, 31 A, 45 P
    • Jake Voracek – 36 GP, 18 G, 17 A, 35 P
    • Wayne Simmonds – 32 GP, 13 G, 11 A, 24 P
    • Brian Elliott – 13 GP, 7-3-2, 2.88 GAA, .918 SV%
  • Penguins Leaders vs. Flyers
    • Sidney Crosby – 63 GP, 38 G, 55 A, 93 P
    • Evgeni Malkin – 53 GP, 26 G, 42 A, 68 P
    • Phil Kessel – 43 GP, 9 G, 19 A, 28 P
    • Matt Murray – 8 GP, 3-2-0, 3.00 GAA, .912 SV%

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

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