Flyers

Flyers-Canadiens: Game 48 Preview

By
Kevin Durso
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Kevin Durso Sports Editor

I have been writing for Sports Talk Philly since 2011. Currently editor and lead writer of Philadelphia Flyers coverage. Co-host of the YWT Podcast. I also am Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN-FM in South Jersey. I graduated from Cabrini University in 2014.

All posts by Kevin Durso
Sports Editor

Published19 Jan 2019

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2-20-2018_FlyersvsCanadiens_3rd_b_credKateFrese-8

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor Flyers-Canadiens: Game 48 Preview

One more game remains before the Flyers head into the bye week and the All-Star break. They enter looking for their second three-game winning streak this season.

The Flyers have won three of their last four games since snapping an eight-game losing streak last Thursday. They face the Montreal Canadiens, a team locked in a battle for one of the top three spots in the Atlantic Division.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Montreal Canadiens GP G A P
Claude Giroux 47 14 38 52 Max Domi 49 15 28 43
Sean Couturier 45 19 19 38 Tomas Tatar 49 16 20 36
Jake Voracek 47 11 27 38 Jonathan Drouin 49 13 22 35
Travis Konecny 47 11 13 24 Jeff Petry 49 10 24 34
Wayne Simmonds 47 15 7 22 Phillip Danault 49 8 25 33
 
Player to Watch
14 Sean Couturier 13 Max Domi
Last 5 Games: 4 G, 5 A, 9 P, +4 Last 5 Games: 1 G, 3 A, 4 P, +4
 
There is not Flyer on a hotter streak than Sean Couturier. Not only did Couturier score a hat trick in the last game on Wednesday, but he had one goal and five assists in the previous four games.
 
Max Domi has emerged as one of Montreal's top offensive players. Domi is on a three-game points streak with one goal and three assists in the last three games.
 
Goalie Matchup
79 Carter Hart 37 Antti Niemi
11 GP, 5-5-1, 2.72 GAA, .915 SV% 13 GP, 8-4-1, 3.63 GAA, .897 SV%

Carter Hart's last start was one of his most impressive to date. The Flyers rallied back from a 2-0 deficit for the second straight game and Hart made a career-high 39 saves in the 4-3 win. Since Jan. 5, Hart has made 196 saves, leading the NHL. He also has a .925 save percentage in the six games since Jan. 5.

Since allowing six goals in a loss to Tampa on Dec. 29, Antti Niemi has won his last three starts, allowing just five goals in the process. In his last start against Florida, Niemi made 52 saves on 53 shots. Niemi is expected to get the start after Carey Price started on Friday.

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 Saturday's game.

Canadiens Projected Lineup

Injuries: Andrew Shaw

Scratches: Paul Byron, Karl Alzner 

Left Wing Center Right Wing
92 Jonathan Drouin 24 Phillip Danault 11 Brendan Gallagher
90 Tomas Tatar 13 Max Domi 62 Artturi Lehkonen
54 Charles Hudon 15 Jesperi Kotkaniemi 40 Joel Armia
47 Kenny Agostino 43 Michael Chaput 20 Nicolas Deslauriers
Defense    
53 Victor Mete 6 Shea Weber  
28 Mike Reilly 26 Jeff Petry  
17 Brett Kulak 8 Jordie Benn  
Goalie    
37 Antti Niemi    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (30th, 31st on road), Canadiens (31st, 31st at home)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th, T-26th on road), Canadiens (18th, 9th at home) 
  • Recent History vs. Canadiens
    • Feb. 8, 2018 – Flyers 5, Canadiens 3 (at PHI)
    • Feb. 20, 2018 – Flyers 3, Canadiens 2 (at PHI)
    • Feb. 26, 2018 – Flyers 1, Canadiens 0 (F/SO) (at MTL)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Canadiens
    • Shayne Gostisbehere – 8 GP, 2 G, 9 A, 11 P
    • Jake Voracek – 25 GP, 7 G, 19 A, 26 P
    • Claude Giroux – 30 GP, 10 G, 13 A, 23 P
  • Milestone Watch
    • Travis Konecny needs one point to reach 100 for his career.
    • Radko Gudas needs two points to reach 100 for his career.

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 93.3 WMMR