Flyers-Canadiens: Game 57 Preview

Flyers Leaders	GP	G	A	P	Canadiens Leaders	GP	G	A	P
Claude Giroux	56	16	33	49	P.K. Subban	58	5	39	44
Jake Voracek	56	9	36	45	Tomas Plekanec	58	12	31	43
Wayne Simmonds	56	21	17	38	Max Pacioretty	58	20	20	40
Brayden Schenn	54	17	17	34	Alex Galchenyuk	58	14	20	34
Shayne Gostisbehere	38	11	21	32	Brendan Gallagher	41	15	17	32

 

Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux	76 P.K. Subban
Last 5 Games: 0 G, 5 A, 5 P, E	Last 5 Games: 0 G, 3 A, 3 P, E

 

In addition to coming off a three-point game against New Jersey, there is some history on the line for Claude Giroux entering Friday's game. Giroux needs one point to reach 500 for his career, all with the Flyers. Giroux hasn't scored a goal since a two-goal game on Feb. 4 against Nashville, a seven-game goalless drought, but has six assists in that time.

 

It's been quite the 48 hours for P.K. Subban. He was benched in the final moments of the team's last game against Colorado on Wednesday after causing a turnover that led to the game-winning goal and being singled out by head coach Michel Therrien after the game. Now, his name is popping up in trade rumors with the news of the benching still fresh. That kind of pressure can make or break a player, and Subban's always been one for the spotlight. Look out for him if he does indeed come back with a vengeance. 

 

Goalie Matchup
30 Michal Neuvirth	39 Mike Condon
12-6-3, 2.17 GAA, .930 SV%	13-17-4, 2.60 GAA, .900 SV%

The Flyers turn to Michal Neuvirth in the first of back-to-back games this weekend. Neuvirth is making his third start since returning from injury. This will also be his second start of the season against the Canadiens.

To say Mike Condon has struggled of late it an understatement. Condon has lost his last five decisions and has just one win since Jan. 6. In his last four starts, Condon has allowed three goals or more, including six goals in his last start against Arizona on Monday.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Jordan Weal, Sam Gagner, Sean Couturier, Michael Del Zotto, Brandon Manning

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
10 Brayden Schenn	28 Claude Giroux	17 Wayne Simmonds
20 R.J. Umberger	52 Nick Cousins	93 Jake Voracek
76 Chris VandeVelde	78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare	25 Ryan White
24 Matt Read	21 Scott Laughton	12 Michael Raffl
Defense
47 Andrew MacDonald	53 Shayne Gostisbehere
55 Nick Schultz	32 Mark Streit
82 Evgeny Medvedev	3 Radko Gudas
Goalie
30 Michal Neuvirth

Only one change to the Flyers lineup from Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Devils. Scott Laughton returns to the lineup for Sam Gagner.

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (T-16th, T-12th on road), Canadiens (20th, 19th at home)
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (T-24th, 15th on road), Canadiens (7th, T-1st at home) 
• Recent History vs. Canadiens
  • Jan. 5, 2016 – The Flyers defeated the Canadiens, 4-3, at Wells Fargo Center. Goals by Brayden Schenn, Shayne Gostisbehere and Wayne Simmonds opened up a 3-1 lead for the Flyers before Sean Couturier scored to secure a two-goal lead for the Flyers in the third. Michal Neuvirth made 21 saves in the win.
  • Feb. 2, 2016 – The Flyers picked up a 4-2 win over the Canadiens on home ice. Wayne Simmonds scored two goals, including the game-winner with 8:04 to play, while Brayden Schenn added another and Matt Read scored to ice the game with an empty-net goal. Steve Mason made 30 saves to get the win.
• Flyers leaders vs. Canadiens
• Jake Voracek – 18 games, 3 goals, 16 assists, 19 points
• Brayden Schenn – 13 games, 4 goals, 9 assists, 13 points
• Shayne Gostisbehere – 2 games, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points 
• Michal Neuvirth – 12 games, 6-4-1, 2.17 GAA, .925 Sv% 
• Milestone Watch
  • Claude Giroux: 1 point to reach 500 for career
  • Mark Streit: 4 points to reach 400 for career
  • Jake Voracek: 6 goals to reach 100 as a Flyer

Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 93.3 WMMR

Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.