Flyers-Blue Jackets: Game 26 Preview

2-22-2018_FlyersvsBlueJackets_2ndedit_credKateFrese-22

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers get back to some normalcy with their game on Thursday night. A new GM is in place and for now, it doesn't appear that any drastic changes will be made as Chuck Fletcher settles into the role.

The team on the ice can breathe a little bit, but needs to channel the energy from a character win in Pittsburgh that was led by their goaltender, especially as they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team challenging for the Metro Division lead.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Columbus Blue Jackets GP G A P
Claude Giroux 25 9 21 30 Cam Atkinson 26 19 11 30
Jake Voracek 25 7 13 20 Artemi Panarin 26 7 22 29
Sean Couturier 25 10 9 19 Pierre-Luc Dubois 27 13 12 25
Travis Konecny 25 8 8 16 Nick Foligno 26 7 9 16
Wayne Simmonds 25 9 4 13 Zach Werenski 27 5 11 16
 
Player to Watch
11 Travis Konecny 13 Cam Atkinson
Last 5 Games: 3 G, 3 A, 6 P, E Last 5 Games: 5 G, 2 A, 7 P, E
 
In the last few games, the Pittsburgh game in particular, Travis Konecny has been flying. His energy has translated into points, including the Flyers first goal on Saturday. In the last five games, Konecny has six points.
 
Cam Atkinson leads the team in goals and points, including five goals in the last five games. Three of those came in Columbus' 9-6 loss to Calgary on Tuesday. 
 
Goalie Matchup
41 Anthony Stolarz 72 Sergei Bobrovsky
3 GP, 1-1-0, 2.89 GAA, .912 SV% 19 GP, 10-9-0, 3.04 GAA, .901 SV%

Anthony Stolarz helped the Flyers steal a win in Pittsburgh, making 30 saves in his first win of the season. That's earned him another start on Thursday against Columbus.

Despite allowing eight goals for the second time this season, the Blue Jackets turn back to Sergei Bobrovsky in goal. Bobrovsky's numbers are not on par with the rest of his career, including an unusually high 3.04 GAA.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Brian Elliott, Corban Knight

Scratches: Jordan Weal, Christian Folin

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 11 Travis Konecny
25 James van Riemsdyk 19 Nolan Patrick 17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl 21 Scott Laughton 93 Jake Voracek
23 Oskar Lindblom 15 Jori Lehtera 22 Dale Weise
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
8 Robert Hagg 47 Andrew MacDonald  
6 Travis Sanheim 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
41 Anthony Stolarz    

Lineup Notes

There are no changes to the Flyers lineup after Saturday's win in Pittsburgh.

Blue Jackets Projected Lineup

Scratches: Anthony Duclair, Gabriel Carlsson

Left Wing Center Right Wing
9 Artemi Panarin 18 Pierre-Luc Dubois 13 Cam Atkinson
71 Nick Foligno 38 Boone Jenner 77 Josh Anderson
17 Brandon Dubinsky 10 Alexander Wennberg 28 Oliver Bjorkstrand
45 Lukas Sedlak 20 Riley Nash 37 Markus Hannikainen
Defense    
8 Zach Werenski 3 Seth Jones  
27 Ryan Murray 65 Markus Nutivaara  
58 David Savard 4 Scott Harrington  
Goalie    
72 Sergei Bobrovsky    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (27th, T-25th at home), Blue Jackets (22nd, 13th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (30th, 29th at home), Blue Jackets (21st, 14th on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Blue Jackets
    • Dec. 23, 2017 – Blue Jackets 2, Flyers 1 (F/SO) (at CBJ)
    • Feb. 16, 2018 – Flyers 2, Blue Jackets 1 (F/OT) (at CBJ)
    • Feb. 22, 2018 – Flyers 2, Blue Jackets 1 (at PHI)
    • March 15, 2018 – Blue Jackets 5, Flyers 3 (at PHI)
    • Oct. 18, 2018 – Blue Jackets 6, Flyers 3 (at CBJ)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Blue Jackets
    • Claude Giroux – 26 GP, 8 G, 16 A, 24 P
    • Travis Konecny – 8 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 16 GP, 7 G, 5 A, 12 P
    • Jake Voracek – 22 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 P
  • Milestone Watch
    • James van Riemsdyk needs three points to reach 400 in his career.

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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