The Flyers have entered the phase of their season where every point matters if they want a playoff spot this spring, and have been dealt some significant blows in injuries to Sean Couturier and Michael Del Zotto.
Add another injury to the list. Claude Giroux will not play in tonight's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and will be out day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Giroux had taken an elbow to the head from P.K. Subban with 2:05 remaining in last night's 3-2 , and though he remained in the game, it was apparent that he was woozy.
No call was made on the play. Giroux's streak of 99-consecutive games will come to an end, and he will miss his first game since Jan. 3, 2015. His bid for 500-career points will also be put on hold.
The Flyers and Maple Leafs face off from Air Canada Centre at 7 p.m.
| Flyers Leaders | GP | G | A | P | Maple Leafs Leaders | GP | G | A | P |
| Claude Giroux | 57 | 16 | 33 | 49 | Leo Komarov | 56 | 18 | 17 | 35 |
| Jake Voracek | 57 | 9 | 36 | 45 | Tyler Bozak | 47 | 10 | 21 | 31 |
| Wayne Simmonds | 57 | 21 | 17 | 38 | P-A Parenteau | 56 | 15 | 15 | 30 |
| Brayden Schenn | 55 | 17 | 17 | 34 | James van Riemsdyk | 40 | 14 | 15 | 29 |
| Shayne Gostisbehere | 39 | 11 | 22 | 33 | Nazem Kadri | 54 | 11 | 17 | 28 |
| Player to Watch | |
| 53 Shayne Gostisbehere | 15 P-A Parenteau |
| Last 5 Games: 2 G, 3 A, 5 P, E | Last 5 Games: 2 G, 2 A, 4 P, +1 |
Shayne Gostisbehere is continuing to impress with his 14-game points streak, which shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The streak is the longest by an NHL defenseman since Brian Leetch's 14-game streak in the 1996-97 campaign. Gostisbehere is also closing in on the Flyers' team points-streak record (18 games), as well as the NHL's record (20 games, set by Paul Stastny in 2007). It also started on Jan. 19 against the Leafs, to boot.
The Leafs' leading scorer, Leo Komarov, is out tonight with a suspension. With 'Uncle Leo' out of the fold, look out for P-A Parenteau. He has seven points in eight games this month, and assisted on Matt Hunwick's game-winner last time both teams met.
| Goalie Matchup | |
| 35 Steve Mason | 35 Jonathan Bernier |
| 13-15-7, 2.67 GAA, .917 SV% | 6-15-3, 3.09 GAA, .898 SV% |
Steve Mason will start for the Flyers, as they enter the second game of a back-to-back. He saved 32 of 35 shots in the last meeting between both teams.
Jonathan Bernier picked up a string of three-consecutive wins from Dec. 30-Jan. 6, but has since lost the next five games he played. Once considered the Leafs' solution to their problems in goal, Bernier is on pace for the worst statistical season of his career.
Flyers Projected Lineup
Scratches: Claude Giroux, Jordan Weal, Sean Couturier, Michael Del Zotto, Brandon Manning
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| 10 Brayden Schenn | 89 Sam Gagner | 17 Wayne Simmonds |
| 20 R.J. Umberger | 52 Nick Cousins | 93 Jake Voracek |
| 76 Chris VandeVelde | 78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare | 25 Ryan White |
| 24 Matt Read | 21 Scott Laughton | 12 Michael Raffl |
| Defense | ||
| 47 Andrew MacDonald | 53 Shayne Gostisbehere | |
| 55 Nick Schultz | 32 Mark Streit | |
| 82 Evgeny Medvedev | 3 Radko Gudas | |
| Goalie | ||
| 30 Michal Neuvirth |
With Giroux out of the lineup, look for Sam Gagner to return and take top-six minutes.
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (T-19th, 13th on road), Maple Leafs (30th,24th at home)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (25th, 16th on road), Maple Leafs (22nd, 26th at home)
- Recent History vs. Maple Leafs
- Jan. 19, 2016 — The Flyers and Maple Leafs looked like they were headed to a 3-on-3 period, but Matt Hunwick's first goal of the season with 7.5 seconds to play gave the Leafs a late win. Matt Read and Shayne Gostisbehere each scored for the Flyers, while Roman Polak and ex-Flyer Joffrey Lupul also scored for the Orange and Black.
- Feb. 26, 2015 — The Flyers outshot the Leafs by a 49-17 margin, but still fell 3-2. Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak and Dion Phaneuf gave the Leafs a 3-0 lead with over 18 minutes to go, and while Claude Giroux and Brayden Schenn dented the Leafs' lead, the Orange and Black were not able to complete the comeback. Rob Zepp made six saves on eight shots before giving way to Steve Mason, who saved eight of nine shots.
- Flyers leaders vs. Maple Leafs:
- Claude Giroux — 24 games, 9 goals, 16 points, 25 assists
- Jakub Voracek — 15 games, 3 goals, 9 assists, 12 points
- Michael Raffl — 5 games, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points.
- Michal Neuvirth – 12 games, 6-4-1, 2.17 GAA, .925 Sv%
- Milestone Watch:
- Mark Streit: 4 points to reach 400 for career
- Jake Voracek: 6 goals to reach 100 as a Flyer
Where to Watch
TV: CSN, CBC (Hockey Night in Canada)
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
