Luke Schenn and Steve Mason defending the Philadelphia Flyers' goal as the Flyers lost a 2-0 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Image c/o Amy Irvin of 38Photography.
This past week was full of disappointing results, but not unexpected ones for the Philadelphia Flyers. They are still in third place in the Metropolitan Division, a full two points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and just four points behind the New York Rangers for second place, with two games in hand. The important part to remember is that the Flyers find themselves just six points out of locking up a playoff spot with five games remaining.
Philadelphia was shutout twice this week, but finally got back on the scoreboard yesterday with Wayne Simmonds’ 26th goal of the year on the power play. Jay Rosehill also scored his second of the year on a nice move down low. The Flyers once again battled back against the team with the most points in the NHL in the Boston Bruins and know the game at two heading into the third period, only to lose by a final score of 5-2. This week should have the Flyers seeing better fates than that as they have games against teams that don’t have over 100 points in the standings.
This week, the Flyers face the Buffalo Sabres at home, the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa, and the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh. You can get tickets to all Philadelphia Flyers games at tiqiq.com.
Buffalo Sabres on 04.06.2014 at 7:30 PM in Buffalo
The Buffalo Sabres are currently in last place in the entire NHL with only 51 points. They have the NHL’s worst goal differential at -81. They have lost their last two and are a brutal 2-7-1 in their last 10. The Flyers won the first two meetings of the season by scores of 4-1 and 4-3 respectively. Simply put: this is a game the Flyers should win and frankly, at this point, need to win.
The Sabres are led by Tyler Ennis who has 41 points (21 goals, 20 assists). Cody Hodgson has 39 points in 67 games (18 goals, 21 assists), while Drew Stafford has 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists), and Christian Ehrhoff has 32 points (six goals, 26 assists).
In net, the Sabres have a pair of goalies who have not seen much time at the NHL level if Enroth remains out tonight. Matt Hackett started the last game for the Sabres and wound up with the loss against Detroit. He is 1-3-1, with a 3.23 goals against average, and a .907 save percentage. Nathan Lieuwen lost his last start as well against the St. Louis Blues and is 1-3-0, with a 2. 57 goals against average, and a .916 save percentage.
There really are no excuses for the Flyers not to win this game. They should handle the Sabres easily and if they don’t, they are likely in real trouble heading into this final stretch of games.
Florida Panthers on 04.08.2014 at 7:30 PM in Sunrise
The Florida Panthers are sitting in second to last place in the NHL with 62 points. They have the NHL’s second worst goal differential as they have allowed 256 goals and scored just 185. The Panthers are 2-8-0 in their last 10 and have lost five straight games. The Flyers and Panthers have split the season series to date as the Flyers took the first game by a score of 2-1 while the Panthers won the second game 3-1.
The Panthers have three players tied for the team’s scoring lead at the moment as Brian Campbell (seven goals, 28 assists), Scottie Upshall (14 goals, 21 assists), and Nick Bjugstad (14 goals, 21 assists) all have 35 points, while Brad Boyes is just a tick behind with 34 points (20 goals, 14 assists).
In net, the Panthers have Roberto Luongo who was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks at the trade deadline. Luongo is 23-22-7 on the season, with a 2.41 goals against average, a .918 save percentage, and four shutouts. Scott Clemmensen is his backup, and he is 6-7-1, with a 3.09 goals against average, and a .896 save percentage.
This is another game the Flyers really should win as the Panthers are not a good team. That being said, they have lost to them already this season, so they can’t look too far ahead because Luongo is still a good goaltender.
Tampa Bay Lightning on 04.10.2014 at 7:30 PM in Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Lightning have secured a playoff berth and currently boast the NHL’s 10th best record. They are third in the Atlantic Division and have scored 229 goals while allowing 211. They have been without their best player for most of the season in Steven Stamkos who returned from a broken leg one month ago. Even without Stamkos, the Lightning have won both games in the season series this year by scores of 4-2 and 6-3. The Lightning have dropped two in a row, but are 5-3-2 in their last 10, and are 22-10-6 in the confines of the Tampa Times Forum.
The Lightning’s leading scorer is Valterri Filppula who has 57 points (25 goals, 32 assists) on the year. Ondrej Palat has 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists) and defenseman Victor Hedman has 50 points (12 goals, 38 assists). Tyler Johnson (23 goals, 25 assists), Teddy Purcell (12 goals, 30 assists), and Alex Killorn (17 goals, 23 assists) all have over 40 points. Lightning captain Steven Stamkos has 37 points (24 goals, 13 assists) in just 33 games this season, while former Flyer Matt Carle has 31 points (two goals, 29 assists), and trade deadline acquisition Ryan Callahan has 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists).
Ben Bishop is having a Vezina trophy caliber year. He is 37-14-7, with a 2.23 goals against average, a .924 save percentage, and five shutouts. His backup, Anders Lindback, is 5-12-2, with a 3.26 goals against average, and a .878 save percentage. Lindback has started both games against the Flyers this year, and allowed five goals over those two starts.
If the Flyers are to win this game, they’ll need to stymie Stamkos, but also find a way to temper the Lightning’s forecheck and excellent transition game, something they were unable to do in the two losses earlier this year.
Pittsburgh Penguins on 04.12.2014 at 3:00 PM in Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in first place in the Metropolitan Division and hold the NHL’s sixth best record. They lost their last game against the Minnesota Wild by way of a 4-0 shutout and are just 4-5-1 in their last 10. At home, the Penguins are 27-9-2. Philadelphia has won three of the four games this year against Pittsburgh by scores of 2-1, 4-0, and 4-3 respectively. The Penguins’ lone win came in a 4-1 game back in mid-October.
The Penguins are led by Sidney Crosby who also leads the NHL with 102 points (36 goals, 66 assists). Evgeni Malkin may return for this game, as he has been out with a foot injury. Malkin has 72 points (23 goals, 49 assists) in just 60 games this year. Chris Kunitz has 67 points (35 goals, 32 assists), while James Neal has 55 points (24 goals, 31 assists), and Jussi Jokinen has 53 points (18 goals, 35 assists). Defenseman Matt Niskanen has 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists), rounding out the Penguins’ top scorers.
Marc-Andre Fleury has garnered the majority of the starts this season and he is 37-18-4, with a 2.35 goals against average, a .916 save percentage, and five shutouts. Jeff Zatkoff has done an admirable job in relief as he has gone 12-6-1, with a 2.66 goals against average, a .911 save percentage, and one shutout.
The Penguins are a deep team with a lot of firepower when healthy. They have been ravaged by injuries this year and the Flyers, for whatever reason, seem to match up against this team extremely well. It would not surprise me if the Flyers won this game, but they will need to bring the same type of intensity and attention to detail they did during the home-and-home series just three weeks ago.
