Flyers
Flyers-Oilers: Game 30 Preview
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 DursoPublished14 Dec 2018
(Photo: Kate Frese)
By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
After the way the Flyers dropped Wednesday's game in Calgary, it couldn't possibly get any worse, right? The Flyers will try to right the ship, but things could certainly get worse before they get better.
This is a game of two teams going in opposite directions. The Edmonton Oilers got off to a slow start, fired their coach and have surged back into a playoff spot with an 8-2-2 record under new coach Ken Hitchcock. The Flyers, meanwhile, are 1-1-1 on a five-game road trip with very little, if any, progress made since the firing of GM Ron Hextall.
Game time is at 9 p.m.
Team Leaders
| Philadelphia Flyers | GP | G | A | P | Edmonton Oilers | GP | G | A | P |
| Claude Giroux | 29 | 11 | 27 | 38 | Connor McDavid | 31 | 17 | 28 | 45 |
| Jake Voracek | 29 | 8 | 16 | 24 | Leon Draisaitl | 32 | 16 | 23 | 39 |
| Sean Couturier | 27 | 12 | 11 | 23 | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | 32 | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| Travis Konecny | 29 | 9 | 10 | 19 | Alex Chiasson | 26 | 13 | 4 | 17 |
| Wayne Simmonds | 29 | 10 | 4 | 14 | Darnell Nurse | 32 | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| Player to Watch | |
| 28 Claude Giroux | 97 Connor McDavid |
| Last 5 Games: 3 G, 6 A, 9 P, +5 | Last 5 Games: 3 G, 7 A, 10 P, +4 |
| Goalie Matchup | |
| 41 Anthony Stolarz | 19 Mikko Koskinen |
| 7 GP, 2-1-2, 3.80 GAA, .889 SV% | 15 GP, 10-3-1, 2.20 GAA, .927 SV% |
Anthony Stolarz may have allowed six goals in Wednesday's loss, but he was on his way to a solid victory before the Flyers total collapse in the final two minutes. Stolarz still made 35 saves in the defeat, a new career high for him.
Mikko Koskinen has essentially taken over the starting job for the Oilers with a very successful season to date. He has wins in 10 of his 15 games this season and a 2.20 GAA while posting three shutouts.
Flyers Projected Lineup
Injuries: Brian Elliott, Corban Knight
Scratches: Jori Lehtera, Jordan Weal, Christian Folin, Michal Neuvirth
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| 25 James van Riemsdyk | 28 Claude Giroux | 11 Travis Konecny |
| 12 Michael Raffl | 14 Sean Couturier | 93 Jake Voracek |
| 21 Scott Laughton | 19 Nolan Patrick | 17 Wayne Simmonds |
| 23 Oskar Lindblom | 44 Phil Varone | 22 Dale Weise |
| Defense | ||
| 9 Ivan Provorov | 53 Shayne Gostisbehere | |
| 8 Robert Hagg | 47 Andrew MacDonald | |
| 6 Travis Sanheim | 3 Radko Gudas | |
| Goalie | ||
| 41 Anthony Stolarz |
Lineup Notes
The Flyers will use the same lineup as Wednesday's game in Calgary.
Oilers Projected Lineup
Injuries: Oskar Klefbom, Kris Russell, Andrej Sekera
Scratches: Ty Rattie, Valentin Zykov, Caleb Jones
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| 39 Alex Chiasson | 97 Connor McDavid | 29 Leon Draisaitl |
| 16 Jujhar Khaira | 93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | 98 Jesse Puljujarvi |
| 27 Milan Lucic | 28 Kyle Brodziak | 44 Zack Kassian |
| 91 Drake Caggiula | 23 Ryan Spooner | 22 Tobias Rieder |
| Defense | ||
| 25 Darnell Nurse | 6 Adam Larsson | |
| 5 Kevin Gravel | 83 Matt Benning | |
| 13 Jason Garrison | 10 Chris Wideman | |
| Goalie | ||
| 19 Mikko Koskinen |
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (T-27th, 24th on road), Oilers (15th, 20th at home)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (31st, 28th on road), Oilers (23rd, 13th at home)
- Recent History vs. Oilers
- Oct. 21, 2017 – Flyers 2, Oilers 1 (at PHI)
- Dec. 6, 2017 – Flyers 4, Oilers 2 (at EDM)
- Milestone Watch
- Wayne Simmonds needs three goals to reach 200 as a Flyer.
Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia+
Radio: 93.3 WMMR
