Flyers-Penguins: Game 48 Preview

Kevin Durso

February 15 2022

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Flyers were most recently swept in a home-and-home against the Detroit Red Wings, bringing their record this season to 15-24-8 in 47 games. Perhaps the most telling number in that bunch is 47, which means that there are 35 games left in a season that has completely gone off the rails and is merely a formality already.

Their next game comes on Tuesday night on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that now sits atop the Metropolitan Division, albeit with several games in hand for their competitors. There is some history on the line for one superstar player, as the Flyers look to avoid a third-straight loss entering a daunting stretch of games that could produce another historic streak.

Game time is 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers	GP	G	A	P	Pittsburgh Penguins	GP	G	A	P
Cam Atkinson	47	17	19	36	Jake Guentzel	43	24	26	50
Claude Giroux	44	15	21	36	Sidney Crosby	37	13	31	44
Travis Konecny	45	8	19	27	Kris Letang	48	5	38	43
Scott Laughton	44	9	12	21	Bryan Rust	27	17	20	37
James van Riemsdyk	47	11	7	18	Evan Rodrigues	49	15	18	33

Scott Laughton has been among the most productive Flyers of late with three goals in his last four games and points in five straight games. He scored in both goals against Detroit and netted the game-winner in overtime against the Kings on Jan. 29 to snap a 14-game goalless drought.

Since scoring a hat trick on Jan. 21 against Columbus, Sidney Crosby has three goals in his last nine games. But against a team where he has scored 49 career goals over 78 games, Crosby can make some history with his 500th career goal. He enters the game one shy, and wouldn't it be all too fitting and all too natural for the Flyers to be the team on the other end of that?

Carter Hart makes another start for the Flyers. Hart made 20 saves on 23 shots in Saturday's loss to Detroit.

Casey DeSmith gets the start for Pittsburgh. DeSmith last started on Thursday, getting the win in Ottawa with a 26-save shutout. DeSmith has made just five starts since Dec. 11, which included a pair of early exits.

Projected Lineups

Flyers Scratches: Sean Couturier (injury), Ryan Ellis (injury), Nate Thompson (injury), Kevin Hayes (injury), Patrick Brown (injury), Joel Farabee (injury), Wade Allison (injury), Rasmus Ristolainen (injury), Derick Brassard (injury), Gerry Mayhew (injury)

Penguins Scratches: Jason Zucker (injury), Teddy Blueger (injury), Louis Domingue (injury), Drew O'Connor (injury), Mark Friedman (healthy), Radim Zohorna (healthy)

Lineup Notes

Flyers: Morgan Frost comes back into the lineup with Derick Brassard out. Gerry Mayhew will also not be available, so Jackson Cates returns to the lineup.
Penguins: Outside of a change in goal, the Penguins are making no changes from their lineup on Sunday against New Jersey.

Game Notes

Power Play: Flyers (30th), Penguins (11th)
Penalty Kill: Flyers (23rd), Penguins (2nd)
Recent History vs. Penguins
- Jan. 6, 2022 – Penguins 6, Flyers 2 (at PHI)
- Nov. 4, 2021 – Penguins 3, Flyers 2 (F/OT) (at PIT)
Flyers Leaders vs. Penguins
- Claude Giroux – 60 GP, 20 G, 43 A, 63 P
- Travis Konecny – 23 GP, 9 G, 10 A, 19 P
- James van Riemsdyk – 49 GP, 13 G, 15 A, 28 P
- Carter Hart – 9 GP, 4-3-1, 2.96 GAA, .908 SV%
Milestone Watch
- Claude Giroux needs six points to reach 900 for his career.