Game 62 Preview: Flyers end February with visit from Calgary Flames

 

Player to Watch
12 Michael Raffl	13 Johnny Gaudreau
Last 5 Games: 1G, 2A, 3Pts, E	Last 5 Games: 2G, 5A, 7Pts, -1

 

With eight goals and 21 games to go, Michael Raffl may not be on pace to duplicate his 21-goal breakout from last year, but that didn't stop Ron Hextall from inking him to a three-year, $7.05 million deal over the weekend. Raffl was also a name speculated in trade rumors leading to today's deadline, and will obviously be sticking around for the time being. It's worth seeing if his new contract will help boost his production as the season winds down.

 

Johnny Gaudreau burst onto the scene in a fury for the Flames last season, and finished with 24 goals, 64 points and a Calder Trophy nomination. The 22-year-old Carneys Point, N.J. native carries a seven-game points streak (sound familiar?) into tonight's game, and set up Mikael Backlund's overtime winner when both teams met in November. 

 

Goalie Matchup
30 Michal Neuvirth	35 Jonas Hiller
15-7-4, 2.19 GAA, .928 SV%	9-8-1, 3.29 GAA, .886 SV%

Michal Neuvirth figures to return between the pipes for the Flyers, and will look to keep up his dominant style of play. He most recently made 29 saves on 31 shots in Saturday's win over Arizona.

Jonas Hiller will start for the Flames. In five career games against the Flyers, the 34-year-old has posted a 3-1-1 record matched with a 2.54 GAA and .924 save percentage.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Jakub Voracek, R.J. Umberger, Evgeny Medvedev, Jordan Weal, Micheal Del Zotto

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
10 Brayden Schenn	28 Claude Giroux	17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl	14 Sean Couturier	89 Sam Gagner
76 Chris VandeVelde	78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare	25 Ryan White
21 Scott Laughton	52 Nick Cousins	24 Matt Read
Defense
47 Andrew MacDonald	53 Shayne Gostisbehere
32 Mark Streit	55 Nick Schultz
23 Brandon Manning	3 Radko Gudas
Goalie
30 Michal Neuvirth

Jakub Voracek remains out of the lineup for the Flyers, as he continues to recover from a lower-body injury. Expect the Orange and Black to ice a lineup similar to the one that won on Saturday against Arizona.

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (16th, 20th at home), Flames (29th, 25th on road) 
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (23rd, 22nd at home), Flames (30th, 27th on road)
• Nick Cousins was briefly sent to AHL Lehigh Valley before the game just be be eligible should they make the playoffs, but was recalled in time for the game.
• The Flyers are 57-45-12 all-time against the Flames (counting for their history in Calgary and Atlanta), and 35-18-3 at home.
• The Flyers are playing their first Leap Day game since 2004, and are 2-3-0 all-time.

Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 93.3 WMMR

Rob Riches is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61