(Kate Frese/SB Nation)
By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor
Following their 5-4 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche last Saturday, the Flyers had played seven games in 12 days. Thursday night marks their return to the ice after a much-needed break.
The Flyers will be looking for a bit of revenge, as they host the Chicago Blackhawks. The two teams met eight days ago in Chicago where the Blackhawks claimed a 3-0 shutout win.
Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Team Leaders
Philadelphia Flyers | GP | G | A | P | Chicago Blackhawks | GP | G | A | P |
Jake Voracek | 15 | 3 | 15 | 18 | Patrick Kane | 15 | 5 | 9 | 14 |
Sean Couturier | 15 | 9 | 9 | 18 | Jonathan Toews | 15 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
Claude Giroux | 15 | 8 | 9 | 17 | Ryan Hartman | 15 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
Shayne Gostisbehere | 12 | 1 | 13 | 14 | Brandon Saad | 15 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
Wayne Simmonds | 15 | 6 | 5 | 11 | Richard Panik | 15 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
Player to Watch | |
17 Wayne Simmonds | 88 Patrick Kane |
Last 5 Games: 0 G, 2 A, 2 P, -1 | Last 5 Games: 0 G, 2 A, 2 P, -3 |
Goalie Matchup | |
37 Brian Elliott | 50 Corey Crawford |
5-3-1, 3.11 GAA, .892 SV% | 7-5-0, 1.77 GAA, .945 SV% |
Brian Elliott returns to the Flyers net after Michal Neuvirth started the last two games. On Wednesday, it appeared Neuvirth was getting another start, but he is believed to be dealing with an illness, so Elliott gets the start. Elliott's last start came last Wednesday in Chicago. He stopped 32 of 34 shots in a solid performance, despite the 3-0 shutout loss for the Flyers.
Corey Crawford stymied the Flyers in a 35-save shutout last Wednesday and followed it up with a 24-save shutout against Minnesota on Saturday. Crawford got the start again on Sunday, but lost to the Canadiens despite stopping 33 of 35 shots. Crawford has certainly been on a roll of late, and his performance last week against the Flyers showed that.
Flyers Projected Lineup
Injuries: Andrew MacDonald (lower-body), Nolan Patrick (upper-body)
Scratches: Matt Read, Mark Alt
Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
28 Claude Giroux | 14 Sean Couturier | 93 Jake Voracek |
11 Travis Konecny | 51 Valtteri Filppula | 17 Wayne Simmonds |
40 Jordan Weal | 15 Jori Lehtera | 22 Dale Weise |
20 Taylor Leier | 21 Scott Laughton | 12 Michael Raffl |
Defense | ||
9 Ivan Provorov | 8 Robert Hagg | |
53 Shayne Gostisbehere | 23 Brandon Manning | |
6 Travis Sanheim | 3 Radko Gudas | |
Goalie | ||
37 Brian Elliott |
Lineup Notes
Another Flyer makes his return, as Radko Gudas slots back into the lineup after leaving last Wednesday's game against Chicago early and missing the last two games. For now, Mark Alt remains on the roster, but will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
The rest of the lineup remains the same. Nolan Patrick is still day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Blackhawks Projected Lineup
Injuries: Michal Rozsival, Jordin Tootoo, Marian Hossa
Scratches: Michal Kempny, Tanner Kero, Jordan Oesterle
Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
10 Patrick Sharp | 19 Jonathan Toews | 88 Patrick Kane |
20 Brandon Saad | 15 Artem Anisimov | 14 Richard Panik |
12 Alex DeBrincat | 8 Nick Schmaltz | 38 Ryan Hartman |
17 Lance Bouma | 57 Tommy Wingels | 40 John Hayden |
Defense | ||
2 Duncan Keith | 44 Jan Rutta | |
42 Gustav Forsling | 7 Brent Seabrook | |
5 Connor Murphy | 11 Cody Franson | |
Goalie | ||
50 Corey Crawford |
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (11th, 15th at home), Blackhawks (27th, T-13th on road)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (T-24th, 21st at home), Blackhawks (6th, 7th on road)
- Recent History vs. Blackhawks
- Nov. 1, 2017 – Blackhawks 3, Flyers 0
- Flyers Leaders vs. Blackhawks
- Claude Giroux – 13 GP, 3 G, 13 A, 16 P
- Jake Voracek – 27 GP, 5 G, 14 A, 19 P
- Wayne Simmonds – 22 GP, 4 G, 5 A, 9 P
- Brian Elliott – 19 GP, 7-9-1, 2.47 GAA
- Milestone Watch
- Shayne Gostisbehere needs one point to reach 100 in his career. He would be just the 25th defensemen in Flyers history to reach 100 points as a Flyer.
Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic