Flyers-Islanders: Game 20 Preview

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

A seven-game points streak came to an end on Friday night against the Ottawa Senators. Having already missed out on a possible two points to start the weekend, the Flyers get another tough test on Saturday night, against a team riding a 13-game points streak.

The New York Islanders have won 12 games on their 13-game points streak, including a 5-3 win over the Flyers on Oct. 27. They bring that streak into Philadelphia next.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P New York Islanders GP G A P
Travis Konecny 19 8 11 19 Mathew Barzal 17 8 8 16
Oskar Lindblom 19 8 6 14 Josh Bailey 17 6 7 13
Sean Couturier 19 5 8 13 Brock Nelson 17 4 8 12
Claude Giroux 19 5 8 13 Derick Brassard 17 6 5 11
Jake Voracek  19 4 9 13 Anders Lee 17 5 5 10
 
Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux 13 Mathew Barzal
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 1 A, 2 P, -1 Last 5 Games: 2 G, 3 A, 5 P, +4
 
Scoring has been a problem for the Flyers, and they need some of their top veterans to step up. Claude Giroux is certainly among the group. Giroux scored a big goal in Wednesday's game against Washington to earn a point in the standings and the Flyers need a similar effort on Saturday.
 
Mathew Barzal is right at the top of the Islanders production. He has 16 points in 17 games, but has five points in the last three games, including two straight games with a goal and an assist.
 
Projected Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 1 Thomas Greiss
9 GP, 4-2-1, 2.88 GAA, .909 SV% 9 GP, 7-1-0, 1.88 GAA, .942 SV%

Brian Elliott gets back in net for the back end of a back-to-back for the Flyers. His last two starts came against Toronto. He made 23 saves in a shootout loss on Nov. 2 and 38 saves in a shootout win on Nov. 9.

Thomas Greiss has been one of the top goalies in the league this season. Greiss has won six straight starts and allowed two goals or less in each. He made 37 saves in a win against Florida last Saturday in his last start.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Nolan Patrick, Scott Laughton

Scratches: Chris Stewart, Robert Hagg

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

Lineup Notes

With no morning skate ahead of Saturday's game, any lineup changes will not be known until warmups.

Islanders Projected Lineup

Injuries: Matt Martin, Tom Kuhnhackl

Scratches: Noah Dobson, Ross Johnston

Left Wing Center Right Wing
27 Anders Lee 13 Mathew Barzal 7 Jordan Eberle
18 Anthony Beauvillier 29 Brock Nelson 10 Derick Brassard
28 Michael Dal Colle 53 Casey Cizikas 15 Cal Clutterbuck
12 Josh Bailey 21 Otto Koivula  47 Leo Komarov
Defense    
3 Adam Pelech 6 Ryan Pulock  
2 Nick Leddy 55 Johnny Boychuk  
25 Devon Toews 24 Scott Mayfield  
Goalie    
1 Thomas Greiss 40 Semyon Varlamov  

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (T-15th), Islanders (10th)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (7th), Islanders (5th)
  • Recent History vs. Islanders
    • Oct. 27, 2018 – Islanders 6, Flyers 1 (at PHI)
    • March 3, 2019 – Flyers 4, Islanders 1 (at NYI)
    • March 9, 2019 – Flyers 5, Islanders 2 (at NYI)
    • March 23, 2019 – Islanders 4, Flyers 2 (at PHI)
    • Oct. 27, 2019 – Islanders 5, Flyers 3 (at NYI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Islanders
    • Claude Giroux – 50 GP, 18 G, 36 A, 54 P
    • Jake Voracek – 40 GP, 6 G, 27 A, 33 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 35 GP, 11 G, 16 A, 27 P
    • Shayne Gostisbehere – 17 GP, 3 G, 10 A, 13 P
    • Brian Elliott – 17 GP, 8-1-6, 2.55 GAA, .915 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: 97.5 The Fanatic

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