Flyers-Bruins: Game 47 Preview

12-2-2017_FlyersvsSharks_2ndedit_credKateFrese-8

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers were back in the win column in a big way on Monday with a 7-4 defeat of the Minnesota Wild.

A stretch that saw six of eight games played on home ice comes to an end on Wednesday night for the Flyers. Their opponent is the Boston Bruins, a team riding a hot streak, yet sitting in third in the Atlantic behind Toronto and Tampa Bay.

Game time is at 7:30 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Boston Bruins GP G A P
Claude Giroux 46 14 36 50 David Pastrnak 46 26 28 54
Jake Voracek 46 11 26 37 Brad Marchand 45 17 32 49
Sean Couturier 44 16 19 35 Patrice Bergeron 30 14 25 39
Travis Konecny 46 11 13 24 David Krejci 46 10 26 36
Wayne Simmonds 46 15 6 21 Torey Krug 35 4 25 29
 
Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux 88 David Pastrnak
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 3 A, 4 P, +2 Last 5 Games: 1 G, 1 A, 2 P, -4
 
Claude Giroux had a pair of assists in Monday's scoring outburst. Giroux has maintained a steady level of play throughout the season and looks to come through in a big way against Boston.
 
It's not often you see David Pastrnak with just one goal in a five-game stretch, but he's in a bit of a scoring drought. Against the Flyers, a team he has had success against in the past, look for him to be dangerous as usual.
 
Goalie Matchup
79 Carter Hart 41 Jaroslav Halak
10 GP, 4-5-1, 2.69 GAA, .913 SV% 24 GP, 13-7-2, 2.39 GAA, .924 SV%

Carter Hart allowed four goals in his last start, but really battled back in that game after falling behind 2-0 early, finishing the night with 34 saves. This will be his fourth straight start, and while the Flyers are still decimated with goalie injuries, that is a sign that Hart is taking over the starting job.

Jaroslav Halak has allowed three goals or more in the last three games, but overall, his season has been excellent. In the past, Tuukka Rask was the clear cut starter, but Boston has been splitting the duties this season and it has worked out really well. Halak made 26 saves in a shutout win over the Flyers on Oct. 25.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Michal Neuvirth, Brian Elliott, Anthony Stolarz, Corban Knight

Scratches: Dale Weise, Christian Folin

Left Wing Center Right Wing
25 James van Riemsdyk 28 Claude Giroux 11 Travis Konecny
23 Oskar Lindblom 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
21 Scott Laughton 19 Nolan Patrick 17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl 44 Phil Varone 15 Jori Lehtera
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 6 Travis Sanheim  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 47 Andrew MacDonald  
8 Robert Hagg 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
79 Carter Hart    

Lineup Notes

No changes are expected to the Flyers lineup from Monday's game.

Bruins Projected Lineup

Injuries: Urho Vaakanainen, Joakim Nordstrom

Scratches: David Backes, Steven Kampfer, John Moore 

Left Wing Center Right Wing
63 Brad Marchand 37 Patrice Bergeron 88 David Pastrnak
22 Peter Cehlarik 46 David Krejci 74 Jake DeBrusk
52 Sean Kuraly 55 Noel Acciari 14 Chris Wagner
43 Danton Heinen 23 Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson 17 Ryan Donato
Defense    
33 Zdeno Chara 73 Charlie McAvoy  
48 Matt Grzelcyk 86 Kevan Miller  
47 Torey Krug 25 Brandon Carlo  
Goalie    
41 Jaroslav Halak    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (30th, 25th at home), Bruins (3rd, 10th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th, 22nd at home), Bruins (T-11th, 22nd on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Bruins
    • Dec. 2, 2017 – Bruins 3, Flyers 0 (at PHI)
    • March 8, 2018 – Bruins 3, Flyers 2 (at BOS)
    • April 1, 2018 – Flyers 4, Bruins 3 (F/OT) (at PHI)
    • Oct. 25, 2018 – Bruins 3, Flyers 0 (at BOS)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Bruins
    • Jake Voracek – 26 GP, 6 G, 16 A, 22 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 32 GP, 14 G, 11 A, 25 P
    • Claude Giroux – 34 GP, 9 G, 17 A, 26 P
  • Milestone Watch
    • Travis Konecny needs one point to reach 100 for his career.
    • Claude Giroux needs one assist to reach 500 for his career.
    • Radko Gudas needs two points to reach 100 for his career.

Where to Watch
TV: NBCSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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