Flyers-Coyotes: Game 29 Preview

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

After opening the floodgates late in their last game, the Flyers winning streak is at five games, their longest of the season. The push for six straight wins continues on home ice as the Flyers face the Arizona Coyotes.

The Coyotes are fresh off a 4-2 win over Columbus, bringing their record to 16-9-4 on the season. They quietly have gotten off to a hot start, sitting in second place in the Pacific Division.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Arizona Coyotes GP G A P
Travis Konecny 28 10 17 27 Nick Schmaltz 29 5 15 20
Sean Couturier 28 8 13 21 Alex Goligoski 29 2 15 17
Claude Giroux 28 9 11 20 Clayton Keller 29 5 12 17
Jake Voracek 28 6 14 20 Christian Dvorak 29 8 9 17
Oskar Lindblom  28 11 7 18 Carl Soderberg 29 8 7 15
 
Player to Watch
93 Jake Voracek 36 Christian Fischer
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 5 A, 6 P, +5 Last 5 Games: 2 G, 1 A, 3 P, +4
 
The Flyers have shown that all lines are capable of producing at any time. The one line that didn't score in Tuesday's game was the line featuring Sean Couturier, Jake Voracek and Oskar Lindblom. Voracek has been solid for the last several games since moving to that line, and after being held off the board, he could be due for a big offensive night.
 
Christian Fischer has just six points in 28 games this season, but half of those points have come in the last five games. He had a big goal for Arizona in their win against Columbus.  
 
Projected Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 35 Darcy Kuemper
14 GP, 7-2-2, 2.70 GAA, .916 SV% 19 GP, 11-6-2, 1.97 GAA, .936 SV%

Brian Elliott gets the start in goal on Thursday night. Elliott was stellar in Montreal on Saturday, making 39 saves in a 4-3 overtime win. Elliott has won his last three starts to improve to 7-2-2 on the season.

Darcy Kuemper has been one of the NHL's best goalies this season, leading the league with a 1.97 GAA and .936 save percentage. Kuemper is expected to get the start in Philadelphia. Against the Flyers, his career numbers are not great. He has a 1-2-1 record with a 3.78 GAA and .886 save percentage in four games against the Flyers. 

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Michael Raffl, Nolan Patrick

Scratches: Chris Stewart, Mikhail Vorobyev

Left Wing Center Right Wing
23 Oskar Lindblom 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
28 Claude Giroux 48 Morgan Frost 11 Travis Konecny
49 Joel Farabee 13 Kevin Hayes 21 Scott Laughton
25 James van Riemsdyk   18 Tyler Pitlick
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 15 Matt Niskanen  
6 Travis Sanheim 61 Justin Braun  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 5 Phil Myers 8 Robert Hagg
Goalie    
37 Brian Elliott 79 Carter Hart  

Lineup Notes

Mikhail Vorobyev was called up on Wednesday to replace the injured Michael Raffl, but he will be out of the lineup on Thursday. The Flyers are choosing to play seven defensemen, meaning Robert Hagg will come back into the lineup and rotate the other forwards to the fourth line throughout the game.

Coyotes Projected Lineup

Injuries: Niklas Hjalmarsson

Scratches: Michael Chaput, Barrett Hayton, Aaron Ness 

Left Wing Center Right Wing
9 Clayton Keller 21 Derek Stepan 13 Vinnie Hinostroza
18 Christian Dvorak 8 Nick Schmaltz 83 Conor Garland
67 Lawson Crouse 34 Carl Soderberg 81 Phil Kessel
40 Michael Grabner 15 Brad Richardson 36 Christian Fischer
Defense    
23 Oliver Ekman-Larsson 55 Jason Demers  
6 Jakob Chychrun 33 Alex Goligoski  
82 Jordan Oesterle 46 Ilya Lyubushkin  
Goalie    
35 Darcy Kuemper 32 Antti Raanta  

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (15th), Coyotes (T-13th)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (T-3rd), Coyotes (16th)
  • Recent History vs. Coyotes
    • Nov. 5, 2018 – Flyers 5, Coyotes 2 (at ARI)
    • Nov. 8, 2018 – Flyers 5, Coyotes 4 (F/OT) (at PHI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Coyotes
    • Claude Giroux – 16 GP, 7 G, 10 A, 17 P
    • Shayne Gostisbehere – 7 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 P
    • Kevin Hayes – 10 GP, 4 G, 6 A, 10 P
    • Sean Couturier – 14 GP, 4 G, 8 A, 12 P
    • Brian Elliott – 15 GP, 10-2-1, 2.14 GAA, .921 SV%

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

Go to top button