Flyers

Flyers-Canadiens: Game 61 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

Published21 Feb 2019

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2-20-2018_FlyersvsCanadiens_2nd_credKateFrese-4

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor Flyers-Canadiens: Game 61 Preview

The schedule turns the corner to the final quarter of the season. With 22 games left on the schedule for the Flyers, each one gets bigger and bigger. Thursday's may be their biggest yet.

The Flyers get the first meeting with a team holding one of the playoff spots they are chasing. The Montreal Canadiens are eight points ahead in the standings, but the Flyers can create a four-point swing with a win. 

Game time is at 7:30 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Montreal Canadiens GP G A P
Claude Giroux 60 17 44 61 Max Domi 60 20 32 52
Sean Couturier 58 24 32 56 Jonathan Drouin 60 17 29 46
Jake Voracek 60 15 35 50 Tomas Tatar 59 19 25 44
Travis Konecny 60 18 18 36 Phillip Danault 59 11 29 40
James van Riemsdyk 44 15 14 29 Jeff Petry 60 10 28 38
 
Player to Watch
14 Sean Couturier 90 Tomas Tatar
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 7 A, 8 P, -1 Last 5 Games: 3 G, 2 A, 5 P, +4
 
Sean Couturier continues to pile up points, getting two assists in the last game on Tuesday. Couturier has played in 58 games this season and has 56 points, nearly averaging a point per game.
 
Tomas Tatar has quietly been one of Montreal's top goal scorers, tallying 19 goals this season, including three goals in the last five games.
 
Goalie Matchup
79 Carter Hart 31 Carey Price
21 GP, 13-7-1, 2.67 GAA, .920 SV% 46 GP, 24-16-5, 2.56 GAA, .916 SV%

Tuesday night was Carter Hart's worst start so far, allowing three goals on nine shots. While not all his fault, the 20-year-old goalie was critical of his own performance in the game and gets another chance on Thursday night. This will be his fourth start in six days.

For Montreal, Carey Price will get the start and face the Flyers for the first time this season. Price is putting together another solid season and has been a big reason the Canadiens are in a playoff position. It could be a goalie duel to decide this matchup that carries critical playoff implications.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Michal Neuvirth

Scratches: Radko Gudas, Cam Talbot

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 27 Justin Bailey
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 6 Travis Sanheim  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 61 Phil Myers  
8 Robert Hagg 47 Andrew MacDonald  
Goalie    
79 Carter Hart    

Lineup Notes

With Radko Gudas serving a suspension, Phil Myers re-enters the lineup. Myers skated on a pairing with Shayne Gostisbehere for a time during the morning skate, but that could change when the game starts.

Canadiens Projected Lineup

Scratches: Nicolas Deslauriers, Matthew Peca, Christian Folin

Left Wing Center Right Wing
92 Jonathan Drouin 21 Nate Thompson 11 Brendan Gallagher
90 Tomas Tatar  13 Max Domi 65 Andrew Shaw
41 Paul Byron 15 Jesperi Kotkaniemi  40 Joel Armia
62 Artturi Lehkonen 24 Phillip Danault  54 Charles Hudon
Defense    
53 Victor Mete 6 Shea Weber  
28 Mike Reilly 26 Jeff Petry  
17 Brett Kulak 8 Jordie Benn  
Goalie    
31 Carey Price    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (T-21st, 29th on road), Canadiens (30th, 30th at home)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (27th, 26th on road), Canadiens (20th, 10th at home) 
  • Recent History vs. Canadiens
    • Feb. 8, 2018 – Flyers 5, Canadiens 3 (at PHI)
    • Feb. 20, 2018 – Flyers 3, Canadiens 2 (F/OT) (at PHI)
    • Feb. 26, 2018 – Flyers 1, Canadiens 0 (F/SO) (at MTL)
    • Jan. 19, 2019 – Flyers 5, Canadiens 2 (at MTL)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Canadiens
    • Shayne Gostisbehere – 9 GP, 2 G, 11 A, 13 P
    • Jake Voracek – 26 GP, 7 G, 20 A, 27 P
    • Travis Konecny – 6 GP, 4 G, 1 A, 5 P
    • Nolan Patrick – 4 GP, 3 G, 0 A, 3 P
    • Claude Giroux – 31 GP, 10 G, 13 A, 23 P
  • Milestone Watch
    • Sean Couturier needs one point to reach 200 for his career.
    • Jake Voracek needs three goals to reach 200 for his career.

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