Flyers-Bruins: Game 51 Preview

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers have been riding a wave of success lately, winning five straight games and six of their last seven as they enter Thursday night's game. One of the wins on the current streak came against the opponent they will face on Thursday in their final road game for nearly two weeks.

The Flyers face off against the Bruins on Thursday night, a team that has lost five of the last seven games since a five-game winning streak of their own.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Boston Bruins GP G A P
Claude Giroux 50 14 38 52 David Pastrnak 50 28 31 59
Sean Couturier 48 19 21 40 Brad Marchand 49 19 37 56
Jake Voracek 50 11 29 40 Patrice Bergeron 34 16 27 43
Travis Konecny 50 13 15 28 David Krejci 50 10 30 40
Wayne Simmonds 50 15 8 23 Torey Krug 39 5 28 33
 
Player to Watch
11 Travis Konecny 88 David Pastrnak
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 2 A, 4 P, E Last 5 Games: 2 G, 4 A, 6 P, -2
 
Travis Konecny had a pair of multi-point games back-to-back before Tuesday, when the Flyers were held to one goal. With a pair of goals in those games, Konecny is up to 13 on the season. 
 
David Pastrnak picked right back up where he left off before his All-Star appearance with a three-point game in Tuesday's loss to Winnipeg, including his 28th goal of the season. Pastrnak also scored against the Flyers in the last game on Jan. 16.
 
Goalie Matchup
79 Carter Hart 40 Tuukka Rask
13 GP, 7-5-1, 2.52 GAA, .922 SV% 26 GP, 13-9-3, 2.43 GAA, .918 SV%

Carter Hart gets back in goal after a night off on Tuesday. Hart won his last start on Monday, making 31 saves on 32 shots against the Jets, and has won his last four starts, including making 39 saves in a win against the Bruins on Jan. 16.

Tuukka Rask missed the Bruins last game on Tuesday after suffering a concussion in the final game before the All-Star break on Jan. 19. He is expected to return and start Thursday's game.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Shayne Gostisbehere, Michal Neuvirth, Brian Elliott, Corban Knight

Scratches: Jori Lehtera

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
44 Phil Varone 24 Mikhail Vorobyev 12 Michael Raffl
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 6 Travis Sanheim  
26 Christian Folin 47 Andrew MacDonald  
8 Robert Hagg 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
79 Carter Hart    

Lineup Notes

Shayne Gostisbehere did not take part in the morning skate and is now going to be out through the remainder of the week, per Scott Gordon, so the lineup remains the same from Tuesday.

Bruins Projected Lineup

Scratches: Steven Kampfer, Matt Grzelcyk, Noel Acciari 

Left Wing Center Right Wing
63 Brad Marchand 37 Patrice Bergeron 88 David Pastrnak
22 Peter Cehlarik 46 David Krejci 74 Jake DeBrusk
43 Danton Heinen 82 Trent Frederic 42 David Backes
20 Joakim Nordstrom 52 Sean Kuraly 14 Chris Wagner
Defense    
33 Zdeno Chara 73 Charlie McAvoy  
47 Torey Krug 25 Brandon Carlo  
27 John Moore 86 Kevan Miller  
Goalie    
40 Tuukka Rask    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (31st, 31st on road), Bruins (2nd, 2nd at home)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th, 25th on road), Bruins (16th, 10th at home) 
  • Recent History vs. Bruins
    • Oct. 25, 2018 – Bruins 3, Flyers 0 (at BOS)
    • Jan. 16, 2018 – Flyers 4, Bruins 3 (at PHI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Bruins
    • Jake Voracek – 27 GP, 6 G, 17 A, 23 P
    • Claude Giroux – 35 GP, 9 G, 19 A, 28 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 33 GP, 14 G, 11 A, 25 P
    • Carter Hart – 1 GP, 1-0-0, 3.00 GAA, .929 SV%
  • Milestone Watch
    • Travis Sanheim is playing in his 100th NHL game tonight.
    • Radko Gudas needs two points to reach 100 for his career.

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

Go to top button