Flyers-Maple Leafs: Game 23 Preview

Kevin Durso

November 24 2018

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Flyers snapped a four-game losing streak on Friday against the New York Rangers. It's a step in the right direction, but it is hardly the end of the team's problems moving forward.

The Flyers next challenge comes just over 24 hours after completing the shutout win. The Toronto Maple Leafs await, fresh off a loss to Columbus.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers	GP	G	A	P	Toronto Maple Leafs	GP	G	A	P
Claude Giroux	22	8	20	28	Mitch Marner	23	6	22	28
Sean Couturier	22	10	8	18	John Tavares	23	14	12	26
Jake Voracek	22	5	12	17	Morgan Rielly	23	9	17	26
Travis Konecny	22	6	8	14	Kasperi Kapanen	23	10	7	17
Wayne Simmonds	22	9	4	13	Nazem Kadri	23	7	8	15

Player to Watch
11 Travis Konecny	24 Kasperi Kapanen
Last 5 Games: 3 G, 3 A, 6 P, +2	Last 5 Games: 4 G, 1 A, 5 P, +2

Travis Konecny was a sparkplug in Friday's win with a goal, two assists and even a fight. While Konecny doesn't figure to be much of a fighter, getting his offense going will be key and with six points in the last five games, he appears to be turning a corner.

For all the hype surrounding Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Mitch Marner, as well as all the talk of William Nylander and his contract, Kasperi Kapanen has been a player that slips through the cracks sometimes with the Leafs. But don't ignore him. The son of former Flyer Sami Kapanen has 10 goals on the season, including four in the last five games.

Goalie Matchup
33 Cal Pickard	40 Garret Sparks
4-1-2, 3.58 GAA, .878 SV%	3-1-0, 3.20 GAA, .906 SV%

Cal Pickard figures to get a second straight start on back-to-back days after pitching a 31-save shutout on Friday against the Rangers. Pickard would also face his former team in Toronto.

The Flyers will face Leafs backup Garret Sparks. Sparks has made just four starts this season, but been on the winning end of three of them. In two of his four starts, he has allowed five or more goals.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Michael Raffl, Brian Elliott, Michal Neuvirth, Corban Knight

Scratches: Jori Lehtera, Andrew MacDonald

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux	14 Sean Couturier	11 Travis Konecny
22 Dale Weise	19 Nolan Patrick	93 Jake Voracek
25 James van Riemsdyk	40 Jordan Weal	17 Wayne Simmonds
23 Oskar Lindblom	21 Scott Laughton	39 Tyrell Goulbourne
Defense
9 Ivan Provorov	8 Robert Hagg
53 Shayne Gostisbehere	26 Christian Folin
6 Travis Sanheim	3 Radko Gudas
Goalie
33 Cal Pickard

Lineup Notes

The Flyers make no changes to the lineup from Friday's win.

Maple Leafs Projected Lineup

Injuries: Auston Matthews

Scratches: Justin Holl, Martin Marincin

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
11 Zach Hyman	91 John Tavares	16 Mitch Marner
12 Patrick Marleau	43 Nazem Kadri	24 Kasperi Kapanen
18 Andreas Johnsson	26 Par Lindholm	28 Connor Brown
63 Tyler Ennis	33 Frederik Gauthier	32 Josh Leivo
Defense
44 Morgan Rielly	2 Ron Hainsey
51 Jake Gardiner	22 Nikita Zaitsev
23 Travis Dermott	92 Igor Ozhiganov
Goalie
40 Garret Sparks

Game Notes

Power Play: Flyers (26th, 22nd on road), Maple Leafs (9th, T-20th at home)
Penalty Kill: Flyers (30th, 29th on road), Maple Leafs (11th, 8th at home)
Recent History vs. Maple Leafs
- Oct. 28, 2017 – Flyers 4, Maple Leafs 2 (at TOR)
- Dec. 12, 2017 – Flyers 4, Maple Leafs 2 (at PHI)
- Jan. 18, 2018 – Flyers 3, Maple Leafs 2 (F/OT) (at PHI)
Flyers Leaders vs. Maple Leafs
- Claude Giroux – 31 GP, 11 G, 19 A, 30 P
- Scott Laughton – 7 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 P
- Travis Konecny – 6 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 5 P
- Cal Pickard – 2 GP, 0-0-0, 3.16 GAA, .882 SV%
Milestone Watch
- James van Riemsdyk needs three points to reach 400 in his career.