Flyers-Devils: Game 65 Preview

Kevin Durso

March 1 2019

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Flyers managed to get a point in Columbus, but could not finish the job in a crucial game on the road, marking a bitter beginning to a three-game road trip against Metro opponents.

They don't get any time to wallow in the overtime loss from Thursday night. On Friday, they get right back on the ice to face the New Jersey Devils.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers	GP	G	A	P	New Jersey Devils	GP	G	A	P
Claude Giroux	64	19	47	66	Kyle Palmieri	63	26	22	48
Sean Couturier	62	25	34	59	Nico Hischier	60	17	26	43
Jake Voracek	64	18	38	56	Taylor Hall	33	11	26	37
Travis Konecny	64	18	21	39	Travis Zajac	62	14	22	36
James van Riemsdyk	48	17	15	32	Jesper Bratt	48	7	24	31

Player to Watch
93 Jake Voracek	13 Nico Hischier
Last 5 Games: 3 G, 3 A, 6 P, -1	Last 5 Games: 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, -2

Jake Voracek went back-to-back games without a point, but since then, has six points in three games. He has scored in each of the last three games as well.

It's been a struggle for Nico Hischier lately. He has just one goal in his last 13 games and six assists in that time as well. The Devils are really decimated by injuries, so Hischier has really had to carry the weight of the team. That said, the first overall pick in 2017 is always a threat.

Goalie Matchup
33 Cam Talbot	35 Cory Schneider
31 GP, 10-15-3, 3.36 GAA, .893 SV%	17 GP, 4-8-2, 3.26 GAA, .898 SV%

The Flyers are making NHL history on Friday. Cam Talbot gets the start, meaning he is the eighth goalie to suit up and play in a game for the Flyers this season. Talbot was traded to the Flyers on Feb. 15 from Edmonton and makes his debut with the team against the Devils.

Back from injury, Cory Schneider is expected to get the start. He returned on Feb. 7 and has made seven starts since. He has won four of his last five starts, including a pair of shutouts and a 34-save performance on Monday against Montreal.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Carter Hart, Michal Neuvirth

Scratches: Andrew MacDonald, Sam Morin

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux	19 Nolan Patrick	11 Travis Konecny
23 Oskar Lindblom	14 Sean Couturier	93 Jake Voracek
25 James van Riemsdyk	21 Scott Laughton	38 Ryan Hartman
12 Michael Raffl	44 Phil Varone	10 Corban Knight
Defense
9 Ivan Provorov	6 Travis Sanheim
53 Shayne Gostisbehere	61 Phil Myers
8 Robert Hagg	3 Radko Gudas
Goalie
33 Cam Talbot

Lineup Notes

The Flyers will likely go with the same lineup as Thursday night, but nothing will be confirmed until closer to warmups.

Devils Projected Lineup

Injuries: Kyle Palmieri, Taylor Hall, Pavel Zacha, Miles Wood, John Quenneville, Mirco Mueller

Scratches: Steven Santini

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
63 Jesper Bratt	13 Nico Hischier	18 Drew Stafford
17 Kenny Agostino	19 Travis Zajac	20 Blake Coleman
15 Nick Lappin	41 Michael McLeod	42 Nathan Bastian
56 Blake Pietila	58 Kevin Rooney	39 Kurtis Gabriel
Defense
6 Andy Greene	28 Damon Severson
8 Will Butcher	45 Sami Vatanen
74 Egor Yakovlev	5 Connor Carrick
Goalie
35 Cory Schneider

Game Notes

Power Play: Flyers (T-21st, 28th on road), Devils (19th, 19th at home)
Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th, 24th on road), Devils (3rd, 6th at home)
Recent History vs. Devils
- Oct 20, 2018 – Flyers 5, Devils 2 (at PHI)
- Nov. 15, 2018 – Devils 3, Flyers 0 (at PHI)
- Jan. 12, 2019 – Devils 3, Flyers 2 (at NJ)
Flyers Leaders vs. Devils
- Claude Giroux – 47 GP, 11 G, 32 A, 43 P
- Jake Voracek – 37 GP, 7 G, 19 A, 26 P
- James van Riemsdyk – 30 GP, 12 G, 9 A, 21 P
- Cam Talbot – 7 GP, 5-2-0, 2.24 GAA, .911 SV%
Milestone Watch
- Radko Gudas needs one point to reach 100 for his career.
- Gudas is also playing in his 400th NHL game tonight.