Photographer: Kate Frese

Game 31 Preview: Voracek gets new linemates, Flyers host Hurricanes again

Kevin Durso Sports Editor

Published15 Dec 2015

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Jake Voracek is still stuck on one goal. So Dave Hakstol, having two days off, decided to shuffle the lines again. The top line remains in tact, but the rest got a new look as the Flyers get ready to come home after playing three straight games on the road.

For the third time in just over a month, the Flyers will meet the Carolina Hurricanes.

The opening face-off from Wells Fargo Center is set for 7 p.m.

Flyers Leaders	GP	G	A	P	Hurricanes Leaders	GP	G	A	P
Claude Giroux	30	11	17	28	Justin Faulk	30	12	13	25
Wayne Simmonds	30	7	9	16	Victor Rask	30	9	13	22
Jake Voracek	30	1	15	15	Eric Staal	30	5	13	18
Brayden Schenn	28	6	8	14	Kris Versteeg	29	4	13	17
Shayne Gostisbehere	14	5	4	9	Jeff Skinner	30	11	3	14

Player to Watch
53 Shayne Gostisbehere	49 Victor Rask
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 2 A, 3 P, E	Last 5 Games: 1 G, 6 A, 7 P, +4

It all started for Shayne Gostisbehere against the Hurricanes. He got a key assist on the game-tying goal for Wayne Simmonds in his first game of the season in Carolina and scored the overtime winner in the last meeting on Nov. 23.

Victor Rask has had similar success this season against the Flyers, scoring in both games between the two teams. He's also been one of Carolina's hottest players, with seven points in his last five games.

Goalie Matchup
30 Michal Neuvirth	31 Eddie Lack
7-4-2, 2.00 GAA, .939 SV%	3-6-1, 3.28 GAA, .876 SV%

Michal Neuvirth gets his third straight start and second start against the Hurricanes. Neuvirth made 31 saves on 33 shots against the Hurricanes on Nov. 23. In his last three games, which includes a relief appearance on Dec. 8, Neuvirth has made 92 saves on 96 shots.

Eddie Lack is expected to get the start in goal after being the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate for Carolina. Lack made the start on Nov. 23 against the Flyers, making 33 saves on 36 shots in the Flyers overtime win. Lack allowed four goals in a win in Arizona in his last start on Saturday.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Mark Streit, Sam Gagner, Andrew MacDonald, Vincent Lecavalier, Luke Schenn

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
12 Michael Raffl	28 Claude Giroux	10 Brayden Schenn
93 Jake Voracek	14 Sean Couturier	17 Wayne Simmonds
76 Chris VandeVelde	78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare	25 Ryan White
24 Matt Read	21 Scott Laughton	20 R.J. Umberger
Defense
15 Michael Del Zotto	3 Radko Gudas
55 Nick Schultz	82 Evgeny Medvedev
23 Brandon Manning	53 Shayne Gostisbehere
Goalie
30 Michal Neuvirth

Jake Voracek gets a change of scenery in many ways. He moves up to the second line with Sean Couturier and Simmonds while moving to the left wing, a position he is not familiar with playing. Matt Read moves to the fourth line and Ryan White takes Voracek spot on the third line. The defensive pairs remain the same.

Game Notes

Power Play: Flyers (T-23rd, 27th at home), Hurricanes (T-23rd, 25th on road)
Penalty Kill: Flyers (17th, 19th at home), Hurricanes (29th, 30th on road)
The Flyers have won both meetings against the Hurricanes this season by the same score. The Flyers picked up a 3-2 win in Carolina on an overtime goal by Jake Voracek on Nov. 13. 10 days later, they picked up a 3-2 win in Philadelphia on an overtime goal by Shayne Gostisbehere on Nov. 23.
Flyers leaders vs. Hurricanes