Writer: Kevin Durso
Game 68 Preview: Flyers look to regroup from weekend woes against Stars
I have been writing for Sports Talk Philly since 2011. Currently editor and lead writer of Philadelphia Flyers coverage. Co-host of the YWT Podcast. I also am Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN-FM in South Jersey. I graduated from Cabrini University in 2014.
All posts by Kevin DursoPublished10 Mar 2015
It could have been the beginning of a crucial week where the Flyers were on the cusp of a playoff spot. Instead, the Flyers are trying to regroup from a lost weekend that may have ended their playoff bid for good.
The Dallas Stars are in town for the first of four games in the next six days. The opening face-off is set for 7 p.m.
Way back on Oct. 18, the Flyers picked up their first win of the season in Dallas on an overtime goal by Claude Giroux. Giroux, still in search of his first even-strength goal at home, has 18 goals and 43 assists on the season.
Jake Voracek has also gone cold of late, scoring two goals in his last 14 games while recording seven points.
Vincent Lecavalier returns to the lineup despite a 21-game goalless drought. R.J. Umberger will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season, mired in an 18-game goalless drought of his own.
Nick Grossmann returns to the lineup as well after missing four games with an upper-body injury. He will replace Brandon Manning, who was in the lineup on Sunday for the injured Michael Del Zotto.
Steve Mason will make another start in goal. Mason is 13-14-9 with a 2.33 GAA and .922 save percentage.
The Stars are a strong offensive team with multiple scorers. After missing 10 games, Tyler Seguin returned to the lineup on Saturday and scored two goals. Seguin is second on the team with 61 points and leads the team with 31 goals.
Jamie Benn leads the team with 62 points and 39 assists. Jason Spezza has 53 points, including 38 assists.
John Klingberg and Trevor Daley have also been strong performers for Dallas. Klingberg, a rookie, has 36 points. Daley has 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points.
Daley and Klingberg also lead Dallas' defense. Jordie Benn, Jamie's brother, also plays a big role on the Stars blue line.
Kari Lehtonen is expected to get the start in goal. Lehtonen is 26-13-10 with a 2.98 GAA and .905 save percentage. Lehtonen is 0-10-3 with a 3.70 GAA in his career against the Flyers.
- Power Play: Flyers (4th, 3rd at home), Stars (16th, 3rd on road)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th, T-13th at home), Stars (22nd, T-14th on road)
- The Flyers defeated the Stars on Oct. 18, 6-5, in overtime. Claude Giroux scored a power-play goal to win the game after a late rally featuring goals by Jake Voracek and Michael Raffl tied the game. Ray Emery picked up the win in relief of Steve Mason.
- Milestone Watch: Wayne Simmonds needs two goals for 100 as a Flyer.
Flyers scratches: Michael Del Zotto, Brandon Manning, R.J. Umberger
Flyers Projected Lineup
Line 1: Michael Raffl-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Line 2: Matt Read-Sean Couturier-Wayne Simmonds
Line 3: Ryan White-Brayden Schenn-Zac Rinaldo
Line 4: Chris VandeVelde–Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Vincent Lecavalier
D-Pair 1: Nick Schultz-Mark Streit
D-Pair 2: Andrew MacDonald-Luke Schenn
D-Pair 3: Nick Grossmann-Carlo Colaiacovo
Goalie: Steve Mason
Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Kevin Durso is the managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @Kevin_Durso.
