Flyers

Flyers-Ducks: Game 39 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

Published29 Dec 2019

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By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor Flyers-Ducks: Game 39 Preview

Alain Vigneault didn't mince words after the Flyers 6-1 loss to the Sharks on Saturday night to start a six-game road trip.

"It was a very bad game altogether," Vigneault said. "I've got nothing positive really to say about one player tonight. That hasn't happened to me very often this year."

The 6-1 defeat to the Sharks was surely a pitiful start to the road trip. The Flyers get right back on the ice on Sunday night to continue the six-game trip by facing the Anaheim Ducks.

Game time is at 8:30 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Anaheim Ducks GP G A P
Travis Konecny 35 11 23 34 Jakob Silfverberg 37 13 13 26
Sean Couturier 38 9 20 29 Ryan Getzlaf 36 10 15 25
Jake Voracek 38 8 19 27 Rickard Rakell 36 10 15 25
Claude Giroux 38 11 15 26 Adam Henrique 38 12 8 20
James van Riemsdyk  38 12 11 23 Cam Fowler 38 8 12 20
 
Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux 14 Adam Henrique
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 3 A, 4 P, +2 Last 5 Games: 3 G, 1 A, 4 P, -1
 
After a game where the Flyers could not draw positives, they really need to go into Anaheim with a response. It's on the leaders of the group to provide that, and Claude Giroux is right at the focus.
 
As the Ducks have gone through various injuries, Adam Henrique has landed on the top line and made the most of his time there. He has goals in three of the last four games since the Ducks loss in Philadelphia.
 
Projected Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 36 John Gibson
17 GP, 8-4-2, 3.02 GAA, .903 SV% 28 GP, 12-14-2, 2.88 GAA, .907 SV%

Brian Elliott gets the start in goal in another back-to-back for the Flyers. Elliott did get the win in his last start, despite allowing four goals to the Senators, in a shootout win in Ottawa. 

John Gibson is expected to get the start in goal for the Ducks on Sunday night. Gibson has wins in back-to-back games after suffering a loss to the Flyers on Dec. 17, allowing three goals on 30 shots. In the two wins against the Islanders and Golden Knights, Gibson has allowed eight goals.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Scott Laughton (groin, day-to-day), Michael Raffl (broken finger, out 4 weeks from Dec. 3), Nolan Patrick (migrane disorder, out indefinitely), Oskar Lindblom (Ewing's sarcoma, out for season)

Scratches: Robert Hagg (healthy), Chris Stewart (healthy)

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 11 Travis Konecny
25 James van Riemsdyk 13 Kevin Hayes 49 Joel Farabee
62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel 48 Morgan Frost 93 Jake Voracek
10 Andy Andreoff 24 Mikhail Vorobyev 18 Tyler Pitlick
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 15 Matt Niskanen  
6 Travis Sanheim 61 Justin Braun  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 5 Phil Myers  
Goalie    
37 Brian Elliott 79 Carter Hart  

Lineup Notes

There will be no morning skate with the Flyers having played in San Jose on Saturday, but there is a chance that both Scott Laughton and Michael Raffl could return to the lineup. Those decisions will become known closer to game time.

Ducks Projected Lineup

Injuries: Patrick Eaves, Ryan Kesler, Rickard Rakell, Troy Terry, Nick Ritchie

Scratches: Michael Del Zotto, Daniel Sprong 

Left Wing Center Right Wing
14 Adam Henrique 15 Ryan Getzlaf 56 Sam Carrick
49 Max Jones 34 Sam Steel 25 Ondrej Kase
53 Maxime Comtois 48 Isac Lundestrom 33 Jakob Silfverberg
20 Nicolas Deslauriers 29 Devin Shore 24 Carter Rowney
Defense    
47 Hampus Lindholm 42 Josh Manson  
4 Cam Fowler 6 Erik Gudbranson  
32 Jacob Larsson 5 Korbinian Holzer  
Goalie    
36 John Gibson 30 Ryan Miller  

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (14th), Ducks (26th)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (T-6th), Ducks (23rd)
  • Recent History vs. Ducks
    • Oct. 30, 2018 – Flyers 3, Ducks 2 (at ANA)
    • Feb. 9, 2019 – Flyers 6, Ducks 2 (at PHI)
    • Dec. 17, 2019 – Flyers 4, Ducks 1 (at PHI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Ducks
    • Sean Couturier – 13 GP, 7 G, 8 A, 15 P
    • Claude Giroux – 18 GP, 3 G, 15 A, 18 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 13 GP, 0 G, 9 A, 9 P
    • Jake Voracek – 25 GP, 7 G, 10 A, 17 P
    • Brian Elliott – 15 GP, 3-8-3, 3.23 GAA, .880 SV%
  • Milestone Watch
    • Shayne Gostisbehere needs two points to reach 200 for his career.

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