Flyers-Bruins: Game 17 Preview

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers have put together a solid week with three straight wins. Back to last weekend's back-to-back, the Flyers are on a five-game points streak with wins in four of the five games.

The tests don't get easier. The Flyers close this weekend's back-to-back on Sunday with a game against the Boston Bruins, a team on a two-game losing streak following a six-game winning streak. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Boston Bruins GP G A P
Travis Konecny 16 7 10 17 David Pastrnak 16 15 15 30
Oskar Lindblom 16 8 5 13 Brad Marchand 16 10 18 28
Jake Voracek 16 4 8 12 Patrice Bergeron 16 8 9 17
Claude Giroux 16 4 8 12 Torey Krug 16 2 11 13
Sean Couturier  16 5 6 11 David Krejci 10 2 5 7
 
Player to Watch
14 Sean Couturier 88 David Pastrnak
Last 5 Games: 3 G, 2 A, 5 P, +3 Last 5 Games: 4 G, 3 A, 7 P, -3
 
It's been quite the week for Sean Couturier. Despite dealing with a shoulder ailment, Couturier scored the shootout winner in New Jersey on Nov. 1, scored the overtime winner on Thursday and scored the shootout winner again in Toronto on Saturday.
 
There's not a hotter goal scorer in the league than David Pastrnak. With 15 goals and 30 points, Pastrnak ranks right at the top of the league lists. Boston's loss to Detroit on Friday snapped a 13-game points streak for Pastrnak, a stretch that included nine multi-point games.
 
Projected Goalie Matchup
79 Carter Hart 41 Jaroslav Halak
10 GP, 5-3-1, 2.82 GAA, .889 SV% 6 GP, 4-1-1, 2.83 GAA, .917 SV%

Carter Hart is getting back to form. Since entering in relief in Pittsburgh, Hart has won each of his last three starts, including making 22 saves in Thursday's win over Montreal. 

Jaroslav Halak has not received a ton of starts this season, but has been solid in most of his action. Halak has won three of his last four starts, including the last two against the Rangers and Penguins. Despite the results, Halak has allowed four goals in each of the last two starts.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Nolan Patrick, Scott Laughton

Scratches: Chris Stewart, Robert Hagg

Left Wing Center Right Wing
25 James van Riemsdyk 28 Claude Giroux 49 Joel Farabee
23 Oskar Lindblom 14 Sean Couturier 11 Travis Konecny
81 Carsen Twarynski 13 Kevin Hayes 93 Jake Voracek
10 Andy Andreoff 12 Michael Raffl 18 Tyler Pitlick
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 15 Matt Niskanen  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 61 Justin Braun  
6 Travis Sanheim 5 Phil Myers  
Goalie    
79 Carter Hart 37 Brian Elliott  

Lineup Notes

Following Saturday's win in Toronto, any changes to the Flyers lineup will not be known until warmups. There are no changes expected to the lineup.

Bruins Projected Lineup

Injuries: John Moore, Kevan Miller, Karson Kuhlman, Brett Ritchie, David Backes, Jake DeBrusk

Scratches: Peter Cehlarik, Steven Kampfer

Left Wing Center Right Wing
63 Brad Marchand 37 Patrice Bergeron 88 David Pastrnak
43 Danton Heinen 46 David Krejci 13 Charlie Coyle
 20 Joakim Nordstrom 52 Sean Kuraly 14 Chris Wagner
10 Anders Bjork 26 Par Lindholm  19 Zach Senyshyn
Defense    
48 Matt Grzelcyk 73 Charlie McAvoy  
47 Torey Krug 25 Brandon Carlo  
33 Zdeno Chara 75 Connor Clifton  
Goalie    
41 Jaroslav Halak 40 Tuukka Rask  

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (7th), Bruins (1st)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (9th), Bruins (12th)
  • Recent History vs. Bruins
    • Oct. 25, 2018 – Bruins 3, Flyers 0 (at BOS)
    • Jan. 15, 2019 – Flyers 4, Bruins 3 (at PHI)
    • Jan. 31, 2019 – Flyers 3, Bruins 2 (F/OT) (at BOS)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Bruins
    • Jake Voracek – 28 GP, 6 G, 19 A, 25 P
    • Claude Giroux – 36 GP, 10 G, 19 A, 29 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 34 GP, 14 G, 11 A, 25 P
    • Oskar Lindblom – 5 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 P
    • Carter Hart – 2 GP, 2-0-0, 2.44 GAA, .925 SV%
  • Milestone Watch
    • Jake Voracek needs one goal to reach 200 for his career.
    • Kevin Hayes needs four goals to reach 100 for his career.

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 93.3 WMMR

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