Flyers

Flyers-Kings: Game 54 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

Published07 Feb 2019

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12-18-2017_FlyersvsKings_1st_credKateFrese

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor Flyers-Kings: Game 54 Preview

Eight straight wins have the Flyers closing the gap on a near-impossible deficit for a playoff spot. For now, that matters very little. All the team can control is the next game and focus on catching the team in front of them.

The next opponent for the Flyers is the Los Angeles Kings, who come to Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night. The Kings have won back-to-back games on an East coast road trip and play their third game in four nights against the Flyers.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Los Angeles Kings GP G A P
Claude Giroux 53 16 40 56 Anze Kopitar 52 16 24 40
Jake Voracek 53 12 33 45 Dustin Brown 43 12 19 31
Sean Couturier 51 21 23 44 Drew Doughty 53 5 24 29
Travis Konecny 53 14 17 31 Ilya Kovalchuk 43 11 15 26
James van Riemsdyk 37 13 12 25 Jeff Carter 51 10 15 25
 
Player to Watch
14 Sean Couturier 73 Tyler Toffoli
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 3 A, 5 P, +4 Last 5 Games: 4 G, 2 A, 6 P, E
 
Sean Couturier enters Thursday's game on a four-game points streak with goals in each of the last two games. Couturier has actually opened the scoring in each of the last two games with goals on the power play.
 
There isn't a player having more success on the Kings right now than Tyler Toffoli. Toffoli has four goals in the last four games, including the game-winning goal against the Rangers on Monday and two quick goals on Tuesday against the Devils.
 
Goalie Matchup
41 Anthony Stolarz 32 Jonathan Quick
10 GP, 3-3-2, 3.44 GAA, .896 SV% 26 GP, 10-13-3, 2.97 GAA, .903 SV%

Anthony Stolarz makes his second start since returning from injury. Stolarz had a 38-save shutout against the Rangers on Jan. 29 in his last start and first since Dec. 15. 

Injury has gotten in the way of another season for Jonathan Quick, but he made two of the team's last three starts coming out of the bye week. Quick picked up the win in Monday's game against the Rangers, making 24 saves. 

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Michal Neuvirth, Brian Elliott, Corban Knight

Scratches: Christian Folin

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
44 Phil Varone 24 Mikhail Vorobyev 12 Michael Raffl
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 6 Travis Sanheim  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 47 Andrew MacDonald  
8 Robert Hagg 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
41 Anthony Stolarz    

Lineup Notes

The Flyers lineup is expected to remain the same from Saturday's game for Monday's game.

Scott Gordon did say following the morning skate that there is a chance Brian Elliott returns next week, but that remains to be seen. Elliott has been getting work in prior to practices for the last couple of weeks.

Kings Projected Lineup

Injuries: Jeff Carter, Trevor Lewis, Jonny Brodzinski

Scratches: Dion Phaneuf, Matt Luff

Left Wing Center Right Wing
19 Alex Iafallo 11 Anze Kopitar 23 Dustin Brown
14 Brendan Leipsic 10 Mike Amadio 73 Tyler Toffoli
62 Carl Hagelin 9 Adrian Kempe 17 Ilya Kovalchuk
13 Kyle Clifford 44 Nate Thompson  51 Austin Wagner
Defense    
24 Derek Forbort 8 Drew Doughty  
27 Alec Martinez 61 Sean Walker  
7 Oscar Fantenberg 2 Paul Ladue  
Goalie    
32 Jonathan Quick    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (23rd, 17th at home), Kings (28th, 29th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (25th, 21st at home), Kings (29th, 22nd on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Kings
    • Oct. 5, 2017 – Kings 2, Flyers 0 (at LA)
    • Dec. 18, 2017 – Kings 4, Flyers 1 (at PHI)
    • Nov. 1, 2018 – Flyers 5, Kings 2 (at LA)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Kings
    • Claude Giroux – 16 GP, 2 G, 14 A, 16 P
    • Sean Couturier – 11 GP, 5 G, 5 A, 10 P
    • Jake Voracek – 23 GP, 6 G, 9 A, 15 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 11 GP, 0 G, 8 A, 8 P
  • Milestone Watch
    • Radko Gudas needs two points to reach 100 for his career.

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