Flyers-Canadiens: Game 54 Preview

2-2-2017_FlyersvsHabs_1st_credKateFrese-19
(Kate Frese/SB Nation)

By Rob Riches, Sports Talk Philly staff 

Fresh off of snapping a four-game skid that (temporarily) bounced them from a playoff spot, the Flyers have a chance to continue that momentum in a brief return home — on one of the most historic days in Philadelphia sports, at that.

They take on a Montreal Canadiens club that just snapped a four-game winless streak of their own — though that's been the least of their concerns. It's been a disappointing season for the Canadiens — a team expected to compete in the first full season of Claude Julien's new tenure — and they also have quite a bit of work to do if they want to chase down a playoff spot.

It's the first meeting of the season between the Orange and Black and le Bleu, Blanc et Rouge, and of the Flyers' next 10 games, three are against the Habs. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Montreal Canadiens GP G A P
Jake Voracek 53 10 52 62 Max Pacioretty 53 16 17 33
Claude Giroux 53 15 43 58 Alex Galchenyuk 53 12 19 31
Sean Couturier 53 27 24 51 Brendan Gallagher 53 18 12 30
Shayne Gostisbehere 49 10 27 37 Jonathan Drouin 48 7 19 36
Wayne Simmonds 53 18 15 33 Jeff Petry 53 8 17 25
 
Player to Watch
93 Jake Voracek 31 Carey Price
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 5 A, 7 P, +1 Last 5 Games: 2-3-0, 2.64 GAA, .905 SP
 
Nolan Patrick earned an assist on Wayne Simmonds' goal in Tuesday's win against Carolina, on what eventually would stand as the game-tying goal. With four points in his last five games, Patrick is playing with a lot more confidence after dealing with injury issues in his rookie campaign, and it's been a delight to watch.
 
Though as mentioned earlier, the Canadiens are struggling in Julien's first season, it's hardly his fault — it's mainly a personnel issue. Not too many players are producing, but an exception to the rule is Carey Price. When healthy, Price is hands-down the best goaltender in the league, and regardless of how the rest of the Habs perform, he's always a threat to steal a game.
 
Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 31 Carey Price
20-11-7, 2.71 GAA, .909 SV% 15-19-4, 2.92 GAA, .907 SV%

In his return from a four-game stint on the IR, Brian Elliott turned away 27 shots on 28 saves against the Hurricanes. He's won each of the last three games he's started, regaining the form he showed that earned him the NHL's Third Star of the Week in mid-December and yielding just four goals along the way.

As dominant as Price can be, he's had his share of road woes lately. He's lost his last six road starts, dating back to just before the league-mandated Christmas break on Dec. 22. In his last three games against the Flyers, he's 2-1-0, and posts a 2.57 GAA, .917 save percentage with a 13-10-0 record in 24 career games against them.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: None

Scratches: Taylor Leier, Mark Alt

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 11 Travis Konecny
93 Jake Voracek 19 Nolan Patrick 17 Wayne Simmonds
40 Jordan Weal 21 Scott Laughton 12 Michael Raffl
15 Jori Lehtera 51 Valtteri Filppula 22 Dale Weise
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
8 Robert Hagg 47 Andrew MacDonald  
23 Brandon Manning 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
37 Brian Elliott    

Lineup Notes

Sneaky, sneaky. On a day when the rest of the Philly sports landscape focuses on the first Super Bowl parade in its history, Dave Hakstol opts to slot Dale Weise into the lineup. It's Weise's first game since Jan. 4 (13 games), and comes against a team he's played 152 games with. Aside from that, the Flyers' lineup remains largely unchanged.

Canadiens Projected Lineup

Injuries: Phillip Danault, Andrew Shaw, Ales Hemsky, Shea Weber

Scratches: Jakub Jerabek, Jacob de la Rose, Daniel Carr

Left Wing Center Right Wing
67 Max Pacioretty 43 Paul Byron 54 Charles Hudon
62 Artturi Lehkonen 14 Tomas Plekanec 11 Brendan Gallagher
27 Alex Galchenyuk 72 Jonathan Drouin 38 Nikita Scherbek
20 Nicolas Deslauriers 42 Byron Froese 49 Logan Shaw
Defense    
22 Karl Alzner 26 Jeff Petry  
2 Joe Morrow 8 Jordie Benn  
53 Victor Mete 21 David Schlemko  
Goalie    
31 Carey Price    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (16th, 23rd at home), Senators (7th, 14th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (30th, 29th at home), Senators (23rd, 29th on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Senators
    • Feb. 2, 2017 – Flyers 3, Canadiens 1 (at PHI)

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

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