Flyers-Flames: Game 23 Preview

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers got back on the right track on Thursday night with a big win on the road. They erased a 2-0 deficit in the first and managed to score twice in the third period in a 5-3 win over the Hurricanes, snapping a four-game winning streak for Carolina.

The Calgary Flames come in going in the opposite direction. The Flames enter Saturday's game on a six-game losing streak, including five regulation losses in a row. On the six-game losing streak, the Flames have been outscored, 23-5, and have been shut out in their last three road games, allowing 14 goals in the process.

Game time is at 1 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Calgary Flames GP G A P
Travis Konecny 22 8 15 23 Matthew Tkachuk 25 10 10 20
Claude Giroux 22 7 10 17 Johnny Gaudreau 25 5 13 18
Oskar Lindblom 22 9 7 16 Sean Monahan 25 5 13 18
Sean Couturier 22 6 9 15 Elias Lindholm 25 10 7 17
Ivan Provorov  22 5 9 14 Mark Giordano 25 4 9 13
 
Player to Watch
48 Morgan Frost 13 Johnny Gaudreau
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 1 A, 3 P, E Last 5 Games: 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, -10
 
Morgan Frost has started his NHL career with two excellent games and scored in both, becoming just the sixth player in franchise history to score in his first two NHL games. In the 53-year history of the Flyers, no rookie player has scored in his first three NHL games. All eyes will be on Frost as he pursues history.
 
The six-game losing streak has been a struggle for Johnny Gaudreau. In the last six games, he has just one assist and is a minus-11. In addition, Gaudreau's name has come up in trade rumors, and while GM Brad Treliving has said no moves to the coaching staff or top players are coming, it hasn't silenced much surrounding the Flames and their struggles.
 
Projected Goalie Matchup
79 Carter Hart 33 David Rittich
14 GP, 6-5-2, 2.72 GAA, .896 SV% 19 GP, 9-7-3, 2.85 GAA, .909 SV%

Carter Hart gets back between the pipes for the Flyers on Saturday. Hart was pulled in the second period of the Flyers 5-2 loss to Florida on Tuesday after allowing four goals on 18 shots. 

David Rittich is expected to get the start for the Flames on Saturday. Rittich has been in goal for the last three games of the six-game losing streak, allowing five goals in Thursday's loss to the Blues. Rittich did make 21 saves in a 3-1 win over the Flyers on Oct. 15.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Nolan Patrick

Scratches: Chris Stewart, Robert Hagg

Left Wing Center Right Wing
23 Oskar Lindblom 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
28 Claude Giroux 48 Morgan Frost 11 Travis Konecny
49 Joel Farabee 13 Kevin Hayes 21 Scott Laughton
25 James van Riemsdyk 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

Scott Laughton returns to the lineup and is expected to skate on the third line with Joel Farabee and Kevin Hayes. Tyler Pitlick moves to the fourth line. Ivan Provorov missed practice on Friday, taking a maintenance day. He is considered a game-time decision, but is expected to play.

Flames Projected Lineup

Injuries: Sam Bennett, Austin Czarnik, Juuso Valimaki, T.J. Brodie, Travis Hamonic

Scratches: Tobias Rieder, Alexander Yelesin

Left Wing Center Right Wing
13 Johnny Gaudreau 11 Mikael Backlund 19 Matthew Tkachuk
88 Andrew Mangiapane 23 Sean Monahan 28 Elias Lindholm
17 Milan Lucic 10 Derek Ryan 29 Dillon Dube
36 Zac Rinaldo 77 Mark Jankowski  67 Michael Frolik
Defense    
5 Mark Giordano 4 Rasmus Andersson  
55 Noah Hanifin 26 Michael Stone  
58 Oliver Kylington 6 Brandon Davidson  
Goalie    
33 David Rittich 39 Cam Talbot  

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (14th), Flames (23rd)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (6th), Flames (5th)
  • Recent History vs. Flames
    • Dec. 12, 2018 – Flames 6, Flyers 5 (F/OT) (at CGY)
    • Jan. 5, 2019 – Flames 3, Flyers 2 (F/OT) (at PHI)
    • Oct. 15, 2019 – Flames 3, Flyers 1 (at CGY)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Flames***
    • Jake Voracek – 25 GP, 5 G, 16 A, 21 P
    • Claude Giroux – 17 GP, 2 G, 12 A, 14 P
    • Kevin Hayes – 10 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 P
    • Sean Couturier – 13 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 8 P
    • Carter Hart – 1 GP, 0-0-1, 2.90 GAA, .906 SV%
  • Milestone Watch
    • Jake Voracek needs one goal to reach 200 for his career.
    • Kevin Hayes needs three goals to reach 100 for his career.

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic/97.3 ESPN

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