Flyers-Jets: Game 33 Preview

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers have played their last two games with a shorthanded lineup, down three regulars in Wednesday's game in Colorado and playing more than half of Saturday's game without five regulars in Minnesota. The devastating news regarding Oskar Lindblom's health hasn't helped matters either.

Following a 4-1 loss to Minnesota, the team's first set of back-to-back regulation losses since Oct. 27 and 29, the Flyers have to get right back on the ice on Sunday to finish up a three-game road trip. They take on the Winnipeg Jets.

Game time is at 5 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Winnipeg Jets GP G A P
Travis Konecny 30 11 17 28 Mark Scheifele 32 14 18 32
Sean Couturier 32 8 15 23 Patrik Laine 30 9 21 30
Jake Voracek 32 6 16 22 Kyle Connor 32 13 16 29
Claude Giroux 32 10 12 22 Nikolaj Ehlers 32 13 11 24
Ivan Provorov  32 7 12 19 Blake Wheeler 32 8 15 23
 
Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux 55 Mark Scheifele
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 1 A, 3 P, +1 Last 5 Games: 5 G, 3 A, 8 P, +6
 
The Flyers may have been shorthanded, but Alain Vigneault offered a valid point that late in the game, the Flyers had an opportunity down by two with their best players on the ice to make it a game again. The Flyers really need their veteran leaders to step up in this time, and that starts with captain Claude Giroux.
 
Mark Scheifele is currently on a five-game points streak with five goals and eight points in that time. Scheifele has 13 points in 11 career games against the Flyers, including three goals. 
 
Projected Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 37 Connor Hellebuyck
15 GP, 7-3-2, 2.66 GAA, .915 SV% 26 GP,15-8-2, 2.31 GAA, .931 SV%

Brian Elliott will get the start for the Flyers in the second half of a back-to-back. Elliott suffered a loss in his last start to Arizona last Thursday. He had won his previous three starts, all on the road.

Connor Hellebuyck has been one of the league's best goalies this season. His 2.31 GAA ranks 10th in the NHL and his .931 save percentage ranks sixth in the league. Hellebuyck took the loss in his last start, allowing four goals on 33 shots to the Red Wings on Thursday.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Scott Laughton, Tyler Pitlick, Oskar Lindblom, Travis Konecny, Michael Raffl, Nolan Patrick

Scratches: Phil Myers

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 49 Joel Farabee
81 Carsen Twarynski 13 Kevin Hayes 93 Jake Voracek
25 James van Riemsdyk 48 Morgan Frost 62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel
72 David Kase 24 Mikhail Vorobyev 44 Chris Stewart
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 15 Matt Niskanen  
6 Travis Sanheim 61 Justin Braun  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 8 Robert Hagg  
Goalie    
79 Carter Hart 37 Brian Elliott  

Lineup Notes

With forwards Scott Laughton and Tyler Pitlick joining a growing injured list, the Flyers had to scramble to make two call-ups for Sunday's game. Carsen Twarynski and Nicolas Aube-Kubel will join the team and play in place of the two injured forwards. Laughton is out with a groin injury and Pitlick has a concussion. All forward lines except the fourth line have been shuffled. Joel Farabee moves up to the top line. Jake Voracek and Twarynski will play on the second line. Aube-Kubel slots in on the third line. Robert Hagg also returns to the lineup for Phil Myers. Myers is a healthy scratch.

Jets Projected Lineup

Injuries: Mark Letestu, Bryan Little, Dmitry Kulikov

Scratches: Carl Dahlstrom, Joona Luoto

Left Wing Center Right Wing
81 Kyle Connor 55 Mark Scheifele 29 Patrik Laine
27 Nikolaj Ehlers 26 Blake Wheeler 85 Mathieu Perreault
9 Andrew Copp 17 Adam Lowry 28 Jack Roslovic
57 Gabriel Bourque 21 Nick Shore 38 Logan Shaw
Defense    
44 Josh Morrissey 3 Tucker Poolman  
5 Luca Sbisa 4 Neal Pionk  
88 Nathan Beaulieu 2 Anthony Bitetto  
Goalie    
37 Connor Hellebuyck 30 Laurent Brossoit  

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (T-17th), Jets (25th)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (3rd), Jets (27th)
  • Recent History vs. Jets
    • Dec. 9, 2018 – Jets 7, Flyers 1 (at WPG)
    • Jan. 28, 2019 – Flyers 3, Jets 1 (at PHI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Jets
    • Claude Giroux – 29 GP, 8 G, 19 A, 27 P
    • Jake Voracek – 23 GP, 6 G, 13 A, 19 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 26 GP, 5 G, 13 A, 18 P
    • Brian Elliott – 18 GP, 10-2-5, 2.37 GAA, .916 SV%

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

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