Kate Frese/Flyerdelphia
The Flyers are set to take the ice in Raleigh, N.C. tonight for their first matchup of the season against the Carolina Hurricanes, and will do so without two cogs of their lineup — including their second-leading point scorer.
Mark Streit on Saturday was placed on IR for six weeks, while R.J. Umberger was placed for one-to-two weeks after missing the past two games with a lower-body injury. As such, the Orange and Black recalled Taylor Leier and Shayne Gostisbehere from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
In 14 games with the Phantoms this season, Gostisbehere has two goals and 10 points, while Leier has four goals and nine points. This is Gostisbehere's first NHL call-up since October of last season — where he suited up in three games with the Orange and Black — and Leier's first-ever NHL call-up.
While the Flyers (5-8-3) have been dismal of late (losing eight of their last nine games), they face a Hurricanes team that is still tied with them in points in the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes are a sluggish 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, and are winless in four of their last five games.
The Hurricanes also bring a unique scoring balance to tonight's game, as four players — Eric Staal, Victor Rask, Justin Faulk and ex-Flyer Kris Versteeg – are all tied for the team's scoring lead. All have 10 points, and Faulk leads the pack in goals, with six (all of which have come on the power play).
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare is also set to return to the lineup for the Flyers, after missing the last seven games with a lower-body injury. He is expected to return to his yeoman's-work positions on the fourth line and penalty kill.
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (26th, 20th on road), Hurricanes (28th, 10th at home)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (24th, 17th on road), Hurricanes (17th, 6th at home)
- The Flyers take a 2-4-2 road record into tonight's game, while the Hurricanes are a similar 2-4-1 at PNC Arena.
- Flyers leaders vs. Hurricanes:
- Claude Giroux – 25 games, 14 goals, 13 assists, 27 points
- Vincent Lecavalier – 83 games, 35 goals, 36 assists, 71 points
- Jake Voracek – 21 games, 9 goals, 7 assists, 16 points
- Steve Mason – 13 games, 7-3-2, 2.65 GAA
- Milestone Watch: Wayne Simmonds needs two points to reach 200 as a Flyer.
Flyers Projected Lineup
Line 1: Michael Raffl-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Line 2: Matt Read-Sean Couturier-Wayne Simmonds
Line 3: Taylor Leier-Scott Laughton-Sam Gagner
Line 4: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Ryan White-Chris VandeVelde
D-Pair 1: Michael Del Zotto-Radko Gudas
D-Pair 2: Nick Schultz-Luke Schenn
D-Pair 3: Brandon Manning-Shayne Gostisbehere
Goalie: Steve Mason
Scratches: Mark Streit, R.J. Umberger, Evgeny Medvedev, Brayden Schenn, Vincent Lecavalier
Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 93.3 WMMR
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
