Flyers-Maple Leafs: Game 45 Preview

12-12-2017_FlyersvsLeafs_3rd_credKateFrese-8

(Kate Frese/SB Nation)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers return to the ice on Thursday night following a dismal 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers snapped their four-game winning streak. They will be looking to rebound as the stakes grow higher with every passing game and the schedule just gets tougher down the stretch.

They face the Toronto Maple Leafs. While the young Leafs are holding down a playoff spot with breathing room, they have struggled to finish off games at times, including one they feel slipped away to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night by a 2-1 score in overtime.

The game comes with some added fanfare as well, as the Flyers will retire Eric Lindros' No. 88 prior to the game.

The pre-game ceremony is set to begin at 7 p.m. and the opening face-off will follow at 8:08 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Toronto Maple Leafs GP G A P
Claude Giroux 44 14 40 54 Auston Matthews 36 19 14 33
Jake Voracek 44 8 45 53 William Nylander 46 9 23 32
Sean Couturier 44 25 20 45 Mitch Marner 46 5 26 31
Shayne Gostisbehere 40 9 23 32 Morgan Rielly 46 5 26 31
Wayne Simmonds 44 15 13 28 James van Riemsdyk 45 19 10 29
 
Player to Watch
93 Jake Voracek 34 Auston Matthews
Last 5 Games: 0 G, 7 A, 7 P, +3 Last 5 Games: 2 G, 0 A, 2 P, E
 
Tuesday's game was not a good one for Jake Voracek, but then again, there's not many Flyers players who would look at that game and find many positives. Still, for Voracek, this might be a chance for some redemption. And despite being held without a point in Tuesday's game, he had seven assists over the team's four-game winning streak.
 
The Flyers have won both meetings against the Maple Leafs so far this season, but their win on home ice in December was missing one thing: Auston Matthews. The 2016 first overall pick missed 10 games with a concussion, and his return has been a bit slow since. In 10 games since returning on Dec. 23, Matthews has six goals and one assist for seven points. He's also gone the last three games without a point, which means he's due to break out of his scoring slump soon.
 
Goalie Matchup
30 Michal Neuvirth 31 Frederik Andersen
3-5-1, 2.39 GAA, .923 SV% 22-13-3, 2.67 GAA, .922 SV%

Michal Neuvirth returns to the net after coming into Tuesday's game in relief for the third period. Neuvirth returned to the net as a starter in the Flyers final game before the bye week and played very well in a win over Buffalo.

The Leafs will turn to their regular starter Frederik Andersen. Andersen has been solid for the Leafs all season, and made 40 saves on 42 shots in his last start on Tuesday. Andersen has suffered the loss in three straight starts, and has losses in both meetings against the Flyers this season.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Dale Weise, Taylor Leier, Travis Sanheim

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 11 Travis Konecny
12 Michael Raffl 51 Valtteri Filppula 93 Jake Voracek
40 Jordan Weal 19 Nolan Patrick 17 Wayne Simmonds
15 Jori Lehtera 21 Scott Laughton 56 Tyrell Goulbourne
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
8 Robert Hagg 47 Andrew MacDonald  
23 Brandon Manning 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
30 Michal Neuvirth    

Lineup Notes

The Flyers make one change to the lineup following Tuesday's game. Tyrell Goulbourne slots in for Taylor Leier on the fourth line.

Maple Leafs Projected Lineup

Injuries: Nikita Zaitsev, Nikita Soshnikov

Scratches: Dominic Moore, Josh Leivo, Andreas Borgman

Left Wing Center Right Wing
11 Zach Hyman 34 Auston Matthews 29 William Nylander
12 Patrick Marleau 43 Nazem Kadri 47 Leo Komarov
25 James van Riemsdyk 42 Tyler Bozak 16 Mitch Marner
15 Matt Martin 33 Frederik Gauthier 28 Connor Brown
Defense    
44 Morgan Rielly 2 Ron Hainsey  
51 Jake Gardiner 8 Connor Carrick  
23 Travis Dermott 46 Roman Polak  
Goalie    
31 Frederik Andersen    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (8th, 15th at home), Maple Leafs (T-9th, T-15th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (29th, 29th at home), Maple Leafs (5th, 2nd on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Maple Leafs
    • Oct. 28, 2017 – Flyers 4, Maple Leafs 2 (at TOR)
    • Dec. 12, 2017 – Flyers 3, Maple Leafs 2 (at PHI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Maple Leafs
    • Claude Giroux – 30 GP, 11 G, 19 A, 30 P
    • Jake Voracek – 22 GP, 5 G, 12 A, 17 P
    • Wayne Simmonds – 24 GP, 10 G, 7 A, 17 P
    • Shayne Gostisbehere – 8 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 P
    • Michal Neuvirth – 17 GP, 9-5-1, 2.85 GAA

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

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