Flyers-Sharks: Game 31 Preview

Kevin Durso

December 30 2021

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Flyers returned to the ice on Wednesday night and picked up where they left off in similar fashion. A 3-2 overtime win in Seattle marked their fifth win in the last six games and extended their points streak.

It's a quick turnaround on Thursday, as the Flyers head to California to finish up the four-game road trip. Their first game comes in San Jose, as they take on the Sharks.

Game time is 10:30 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers	GP	G	A	P	San Jose Sharks	GP	G	A	P
Claude Giroux	30	11	16	27	Timo Meier	26	13	18	31
Cam Atkinson	30	12	8	20	Logan Couture	30	10	17	27
Travis Konecny	30	5	13	18	Tomas Hertl	31	15	8	23
Sean Couturier	29	6	11	17	Erik Karlsson	25	8	12	20
James van Riemsdyk	30	7	6	13	Alexander Barabanov	26	4	13	17

Cam Atkinson enters Thursday's game with six points in his last five games. He is also a plus-9 in that stretch, including a plus-2 in Wednesday's win in Seattle. Good things seem to happen when Atkinson is on the ice, so watch for him in this one.

Tomas Hertl picked up where he left off prior to the break in his last game. He scored a goal to extend his points streak to seven games and has seven goals and three assists in that time. Nearly half of Hertl's production this season has come during this streak and he's known to score in bunches, so keep an eye on him in this game.

Felix Sandstrom will make his NHL debut in Thursday's game. Sandstrom served as the backup for the last two games. In 15 games in the AHL this season, Sandstrom has a 3-7-3 with a 3.08 GAA and .896 save percentage.

James Reimer will be in goal for the Sharks. Reimer made 39 saves on 46 shots in a wild 8-7 shootout win over the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday in San Jose's return from the break. Reimer has been on a roll with wins in six of his last eight starts. Prior to the seven-goal outburst for Arizona, Reimer had allowed two goals or less in four straight starts.

Projected Lineups

Flyers Scratches: Carter Hart (COVID protocol), Sean Couturier (COVID protocol), Scott Laughton (COVID protocol), Derick Brassard (COVID protocol), Ryan Ellis (COVID protocol), Nate Thompson (injury), Kevin Connauton (healthy)

Sharks Scratches: Jonathan Dahlen (COVID protocol), Adin Hill (COVID protocol), Kevin Labanc (injury), Nikolai Knyzhov (injury), Nicolas Meloche (healthy), Rudolfs Balcers (healthy), Nick Merkley (healthy)

Lineup Notes

Flyers: Outside of the change in goal, the Flyers will also make a couple of additional lineup changes. Jackson Cates was called up from the Taxi Squad and Gerry Mayhew was sent to the Taxi Squad in return. Nick Seeler also enters the lineup for Kevin Connauton.
Sharks: No lineup changes are expected for the Sharks.

Game Notes

Power Play: Flyers (26th), Sharks (18th)
Penalty Kill: Flyers (13th), Sharks (6th)
Recent History vs. Sharks
- Feb. 25, 2020 – Flyers 4, Sharks 2 (at PHI)
- Dec. 28, 2019 – Sharks 6, Flyers 1 (at SJ)
Flyers Leaders vs. Sharks
- Travis Konecny – 6 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 P
- Oskar Lindblom – 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 P
- Claude Giroux – 19 GP, 8 G, 7 A, 15 P
- Kevin Hayes – 13 GP, 5 G, 5 A, 10 P
- Martin Jones – 3 GP, 1-1-0, 1.29 GAA, .946 SV%
Milestone Watch
- Travis Konecny needs one goal to reach 100 for his career.
- Cam Atkinson needs three assists to reach 200 for his career.