Flyers-Ducks: Game 55 Preview

10-24-2017_FlyersvsDucks_2ndedit_credKateFrese-25

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers winning streak came to an end on Thursday, but a late goal by Jake Voracek forced overtime and essentially stole the Flyers a point. They will carry a nine-game points streak into Saturday afternoon's game.

The Flyers continue a five-game homestand with a game against the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks have been in complete free-fall mode, with just two wins in their last 20 games. The opportunity presents itself for the Flyers to rebound from Thursday's defeat properly to keep their comeback efforts going in the right direction.

Game time is at 1 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Anaheim Ducks GP G A P
Claude Giroux 54 16 42 58 Ryan Getzlaf 49 11 23 34
Jake Voracek 54 13 33 46 Adam Henrique 55 9 18 27
Sean Couturier 52 22 23 45 Rickard Rakell 42 9 16 25
Travis Konecny 54 14 17 31 Brandon Montour 55 5 19 24
James van Riemsdyk 38 13 12 25 Nick Ritchie 40 7 16 23
 
Player to Watch
19 Nolan Patrick 15 Ryan Getzlaf
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 1 A, 2 P, -3 Last 5 Games: 1 G, 1 A, 2 P, -6
 
The points aren't always coming for Nolan Patrick, but he's come close to making some plays that would result in goals. Patrick's certainly found a new gear, and could be dangerous against the Ducks, a team he beat with a late third-period goal in October.
 
There haven't been many bright spots around the Ducks of late, and if they are going to climb out of this losing spell at all, they need some help from their captain. Ryan Getzlaf is the team leader in points and looks to lead the way for a floundering team.
 
Goalie Matchup
79 Carter Hart 36 John Gibson
16 GP, 10-5-1, 2.48 GAA, .925 SV% 46 GP, 17-19-8, 2.93 GAA, .914 SV%

Carter Hart gets back between the pipes on Saturday after having Thursday's game off. He enters with a personal seven-game winning streak. A win would make him just the second goalie in NHL history to string together eight straight wins before his 21st birthday.

John Gibson has received a bulk of the work for the Ducks this season. Early in the year, he was a catalyst, leading the way and getting thrown into the early discussion for the Vezina. Recently, he's been decent, but his numbers have taken a hit as a result of the team's struggles.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Michal Neuvirth, Brian Elliott

Scratches: Phil Myers

Left Wing Center Right Wing
25 James van Riemsdyk 28 Claude Giroux 11 Travis Konecny
23 Oskar Lindblom 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
21 Scott Laughton 19 Nolan Patrick 17 Wayne Simmonds
44 Phil Varone 24 Mikhail Vorobyev 12 Michael Raffl
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 6 Travis Sanheim  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 47 Andrew MacDonald  
8 Robert Hagg 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
79 Carter Hart    

Lineup Notes

Phil Myers was recalled before the game in the wake of a trade involving Dale Weise and Christian Folin, but was not on the ice for warmups. His debut will not happen Saturday. The lineup remains the same without him.

Ducks Projected Lineup

Injuries: Ondrej Kase, Kevin Bieksa, Ryan Miller, Patrick Eaves

Scratches: Adam Cracknell, Andy Welinski

Left Wing Center Right Wing
67 Rickard Rakell 15 Ryan Getzlaf 10 Corey Perry
29 Devin Shore 17 Ryan Kesler 33 Jakob Silfverberg
37 Nick Ritchie 14 Adam Henrique 11 Daniel Sprong
23 Brian Gibbons 38 Derek Grant  24 Carter Rowney
Defense    
4 Cam Fowler 42 Josh Manson  
47 Hampus Lindholm 26 Brandon Montour  
75 Jaycob Megna 44 Michael Del Zotto  
Goalie    
36 John Gibson    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (23rd, 17th at home), Ducks (29th, 26th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (27th, 22nd at home), Ducks (17th, T-21st on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Ducks
    • Oct. 7, 2017 – Flyers 3, Ducks 2 (F/OT) (at ANA)
    • Oct. 24, 2017 – Ducks 6, Flyers 2 (at PHI)
    • Oct. 30, 2018 – Flyers 3, Ducks 2 (at ANA)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Ducks
    • Claude Giroux – 16 GP, 2 G, 14 A, 16 P
    • Sean Couturier – 11 GP, 5 G, 5 A, 10 P
    • Jake Voracek – 23 GP, 6 G, 9 A, 15 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 11 GP, 0 G, 8 A, 8 P
  • Milestone Watch
    • Radko Gudas needs two points to reach 100 for his career.

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

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