Game 40 Preview: Flyers return home, battle Ottawa tonight

Steve Mason makes a save. Photo courtesy of Kate Frese

For the first time in almost three weeks there will be hockey in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Flyers (14-18-7) return home after a season long eight game road trip. The team will face off against the Ottawa Senators (16-15-7) tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. Game time is 7:00.

After beginning the aforementioned road trip with three straight wins, the team floundered. They finished the trip losing the last five games to finish 3-4-1. 

There were some positives to be taken from the road trip, especially in those first three games. The secondary scoring the team has lacked most of the year seemed to come alive early. It was Sean Couturier's line that got the Flyers back into the game in Toronto after falling behind 2-0 early.

The next night in Winnipeg, Vincent Lecavlier's line provided late game heroics forcing overtime. Vinny scored two goals to tie the game and Jake Voracek won the game early in the extra frame.

Even in the team's loss in Arizona it was secondary scoring that kept them in it late. Both goals in the 4-2 loss were scored by R.J. Umberger. It was the top line that couldn't muster anything that night as Arizona smothered the Flyers all evening.

Scott Laughton looks to return to the lineup tonight after missing Saturday's game in New Jersey. Claude Giroux's status is up the air for tonight. The Flyer captain is still listed as day-to-day. 

Steve Mason has played in each of the last four games, starting three of them. He figures to be between the pipes for Philadelphia tonight. Mason is 6-12-6 on the year with a 2.57 goals against average, a .916 save percentage with one shutout. He has played much better than the win/loss record indicates.

Jake Voracek (15 goals and 33 assists) continues to lead the Flyers and the NHL in scoring. Claude Giroux is second on the team with 43 points on 13 goals and 30 assists. 

The Ottawa Senators come into tonight on a bit a slide of their own. The Senators have just two wins in their last six games. They are 2-3-1 in that stretch.  

Kyle Turris and Erik Karlsson are tied for the team lead with 27 points a piece. Turris has nine goals and 18 assists while Karlsson has seven goals and 20 assists.  His 20 assists lead the team in that category.

Mike Hoffman paces the team with 12 goals.

Craig Andersen looks to get the start in goal for Ottawa. Andersen is 10-9-5 on the season with a 2.38 goals against average, a .927 save percentage with three shutouts.

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (6th, 1st at home), Senators (20th, 25th on road) 
  
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (30th, 14th at home), Senators (10th, 13th on road) 
• This is the first of three meetings between the two teams this year. They will play in Ottawa on March 15th. The series concludes on April 11th in Philly.

Flyers scratches: Claude Giroux, Carlo Colaiacovo, Luke Schenn

Flyers Projected Lineup

Line 1: Zac Rinaldo-Brayden Schenn-Jake Voracek
Line 2: Michael Raffl-Scott Laughton-Wayne Simmonds
Line 3: R.J. Umberger-Sean Couturier-Matt Read
Line 4:Chris VandeVelde–Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Vincent Lecavalier

D-Pair 1: Nick Grossmann-Mark Streit
D-Pair 2: Braydon Coburn-Nick Schultz
D-Pair 3:Andrew MacDonald-Michael Del Zotto  

Goalie: Steve Mason

Where to Watch
TV: CSN Philly
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Bill Minchin is a contruibuting writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074