Preseason Game 5 Preview: Flyers-Rangers

9-15-2017_FlyersCamp_1_credKateFrese-12(Kate Frese/Sports Talk Philly)

By Rob Riches, Sports Talk Philly staff 

After a three-day break from games — not something we see every day in the preseason– the Flyers head to New York for a matchup with the Rangers, though some fundamental differences will be in effect.

Claude Giroux, the team's longtime first-line center, will be playing on the left wing. It's the first time he'll be playing on the wing since early in his career.

Giroux has been working on the left wing in practice over the course of the past week, but never formally got into any game action. This will be his first test, and Sean Couturier will play alongside him to take over the duties of centering the first line.

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.

The Flyers are reeling from a 2-1 overtime loss to Boston on Thursday, in which Travis Sanheim scored the team's lone goal. Both Brian Elliott (in his first preseason appearance) and Alex Lyon split time between the pipes.
 
In goal, Michal Neuvirth is set to take over for the Flyers. He's expected to carry the reigns for the whole game.
 
The Rangers have some cuts looming, and at 34 players, cuts are expected to be made following tonight's game. Several names playing tonight will look familiar to Flyers fans, though — names such as Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider, Rick Nash, Ryan McDonagh and prized free-agent signing Kevin Shattenkirk.
 
The Flyers' roster for the game is as follows:

Flyers Roster

  • Forwards: Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, Sean Couturier, Jordan Weal, Nolan Patrick, Wayne Simmonds, Jori Lehtera, Valtteri Filppula, Travis Konecny, Michael Raffl, Scott Laughton, Matt Read
  • Defensemen: Ivan Provorov, Robert Hagg, Brandon Manning, Shayne Gostisbehere, Travis Sanheim, Radko Gudas
  • Goalies: Michal Neuvirth, Brian Elliott
  • Scratches: Taylor Leier, Oskar Lindblom, Dale Weise, Mike Vecchione, Samuel Morin, Andrew MacDonald

Rangers Roster

  • Forwards: Matt Puempel, Chris Kreider, Boo Nieves, Paul Carey, Mats Zuccarello, Lias Andersson, Gabriel Fontaine (no, not the guy from The Godfather), Rick Nash, Filip Chytil, Pavel Buchnevich, Mika Zibanejad, Vinni Lettieri
  • Defensemen: Marc Staal, Kevin Shattenkirk, Ryan McDonagh, Brendan Smith, Steven Kampfer, Anthony DeAngelo
  • Goalies: Henrik Lundqvist, Brandon Halverson

Where to Watch
TV: TCN

Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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