Flyers

Flyers-Devils: Game 19 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

Published15 Nov 2018

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10-20-2018_FlyersvsDevils_2ndedit_credKateFrese-19

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor Flyers-Devils: Game 19 Preview

The Flyers recent stretch of winning and a six-game points streak came to an end against the Panthers on Tuesday, right as the five-game homestand reached its midpoint.

The Flyers next meeting on home ice comes against the New Jersey Devils, a team that has fallen in the standings after a hot start. The Devils sit in last place in the Metropolitan Division, but are just four points behind the Flyers.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P New Jersey Devils GP G A P
Claude Giroux 18 7 15 22 Taylor Hall 16 5 14 19
Jake Voracek 18 5 12 17 Kyle Palmieri 16 10 8 18
Sean Couturier 18 7 5 11 Travis Zajac 15 7 6 13
Wayne Simmonds 18 7 3 10 Damon Severson 16 3 9 12
Oskar Lindblom 18 5 5 10 Nico Hischier 15 3 9 12
 
Player to Watch
19 Nolan Patrick 9 Taylor Hall
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 1 A, 3 P, +4 Last 5 Games: 3 G, 3 A, 6 P, +2
 
Nolan Patrick's line has been excellent in the last few games, really driving the forecheck and creating chances. They almost single-handedly completed a comeback on Tuesday. In the first meeting with New Jersey this season, Patrick had a goal and his line was responsible for the game-winning goal by Jake Voracek as well. Look for Patrick to be strong in this game.
 
Things had been a little slow for the reigning Hart Trophy winner before a four-point game in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Taylor Hall is obviously dangerous at all times, especially if the Flyers take too many penalties and allow the Devils to attack on the man advantage.
 
Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 1 Keith Kinkaid
6-6-0, 2.62 GAA, .911 SV% 7-5-1, 2.80 GAA, .911 SV%

Brian Elliott took the loss in Tuesday's game, but made several key saves. After making 49 straight saves in his last two appearances, a 28-for-30 night still has him on a roll, despite the loss. Elliott is expected to be back in goal on Thursday.

Keith Kinkaid entered the game in Philadelphia on Oct. 20 with stellar numbers early in the season. He's come back to Earth quite a bit in the last few weeks. He GAA has more than doubled from that last meeting and the Devils record has slipped from the 4-1-0 mark they had after five games.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Michael Raffl, Michal Neuvirth

Scratches: Jori Lehtera, Radko Gudas

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 11 Travis Konecny
23 Oskar Lindblom 19 Nolan Patrick 93 Jake Voracek
25 James van Riemsdyk 40 Jordan Weal 17 Wayne Simmonds
22 Dale Weise 21 Scott Laughton 62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 8 Robert Hagg  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 26 Christian Folin  
6 Travis Sanheim 47 Andrew MacDonald  
Goalie    
37 Brian Elliott    

Lineup Notes

James van Riemsdyk returns to the lineup for the first time since the second game of the season. He'll take the spot on the third line between Jordan Weal and Wayne Simmonds. Dale Weise drops to the fourth line with Scott Laughton shifting to center and Nicolas Aube-Kubel playing the other wing. Jori Lehtera comes out of the lineup.

JVR also was part of a new-look top power-play unit. Jake Voracek was back with the top unit and JVR played net-front. Travis Konecny and Nolan Patrick were back on the second unit with Weal, Simmonds and Ivan Provorov.

Radko Gudas missed practice on Wednesday with a maintenance day, but is unavailable for Thursday's game. For now, we'll list him among the scratches and not injuries until there's an update. Andrew MacDonald slots back into the lineup to replace him.

Devils Projected Lineup

Injuries: Brian Boyle, Nico Hischier

Scratches: John Quenneville, Drew Stafford, Steven Santini, Egor Yakovlev

Left Wing Center Right Wing
9 Taylor Hall 19 Travis Zajac 21 Kyle Palmieri
90 Marcus Johansson 37 Pavel Zacha 63 Jesper Bratt
20 Blake Coleman 43 Brent Seney 49 Joey Anderson
44 Miles Wood 10 Jean-Sebastian Dea 23 Stefan Noesen
Defense    
25 Mirco Mueller 45 Sami Vatanen  
6 Andy Greene 28 Damon Severson  
8 Will Butcher 12 Ben Lovejoy  
Goalie    
1 Keith Kinkaid    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (28th, 29th at home), Devils (11th, 6th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (30th, 29th at home), Devils (13th, T-24th on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Devils
    • Jan. 13, 2018 – Flyers 5, Devils 3 (at NJ)
    • Jan. 20, 2018 – Flyers 3, Devils 1 (at PHI)
    • Feb. 1, 2017 – Devils 4, Flyers 3 (at NJ)
    • Feb. 13, 2018 – Devils 5, Flyers 4 (F/SO) (at PHI)
    • Oct. 20, 2018 – Flyers 5, Devils 2 (at PHI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Devils
    • Claude Giroux – 45 GP, 11 G, 32 A, 43 P
    • Shayne Gostisbehere – 12 GP, 3 G, 6 A, 9 P
    • Jake Voracek – 35 GP, 7 G, 18 A, 25 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 28 GP, 11 G, 8 A, 19 P
    • Brian Elliott – 10 GP, 6-4-0, 2.61 GAA, .912 SV%
  • Milestone Watch
    • Claude Giroux needs one point to reach 700 for his career. 
    • Giroux also needs three assists to pass Brian Propp for 2nd all-time in Flyers history.

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