Flyers-Red Wings: Game 14 Preview

Flyers Leaders	GP	G	A	P	Red Wings Leaders	GP	G	A	P
Claude Giroux	13	3	11	14	Mike Green	13	3	6	9
Jake Voracek	13	6	7	13	Gustav Nyquist	13	3	6	9
Wayne Simmonds	13	6	6	12	Thomas Vanek	7	4	4	8
Mark Streit	13	3	6	9	Darren Helm	13	4	3	7
Shayne Gostisbehere	13	3	6	9	Henrik Zetterberg	13	2	5	7

 

Player to Watch
14 Sean Couturier	71 Dylan Larkin
Last 5 Games: 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, -4	Last 5 Games: 2 G, 0 A, 2 P,-5

 

After a promising opening week offensively, Sean Couturier has cooled off considerably. Playing with Jakub Voracek and Travis Konecny was thought to be able to bring out the offensive numbers many fans hoped he could produce. So far this season it hasn't.

 

That is not to say he is struggling as he typically draws the assignment of going against the opposing team's top line. The young center and his line mates will most likely get that very assignment again tonight. If his line can control the top guns for the Red Wings, the Flyers will have a chance for the victory.

 

Second year pro Dylan Larkin can be a highlight reel all on his own. Up to this point, he has not consistently been on the scoresheet much less the highlight reel. Despite early season struggles, he is still one of the more if not the most dangerous Red Wings players.

 

Larkin has top end speed and outstanding puck handling ability. He is a threat each time he takes the ice.

 

Goalie Matchup
35 Steve Mason	35 Jimmy Howard
2-4-1, 3.46 GAA, .878 SV%	2-2-0, 1.12 GAA, .965 SV%

Steve Mason gets the start today for the Flyers. Mason has not played since October 29th when he allowed three goals on 13 shots before being lifted against Pittsburgh. A strength of the Flyers over the past two seasons, goaltending has been a bit of an issue this season. The defense has played poorly as well which has contributed to the inflated goalie statistics.

Mason has proven he can be the guy and carry the team. He will need to re-establish himself as that guy beginning tonight. 

Jimmy Howard gets the nod for Detroit. Howard has looked like his former self in the early part of the season. Petr Mrazek  is entrenched as the number one for the Red Wings but Howard has been outstanding in the games he has played.  If he makes some key early saves it could be a long night for the Flyers.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Nick Cousins, Andrew MacDonald, Nick Schultz, Scott Laughton, Boyd Gordon

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
24 Matt Read	28 Claude Giroux	17 Wayne Simmonds
11 Travis Konecny	14 Sean Couturier	93 Jake Voracek
12 Michael Raffl	10 Brayden Schenn	22 Dale Weise
76 Chris VandeVelde	78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare	13 Roman Lyubimov
Defense
53 Shayne Gostisbehere	15 Michael Del Zotto
9 Ivan Provorov	32 Mark Streit
3 Radko Gudas	23 Brandon Manning
Goalie
35 Steve Mason

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (4th, 5th at home), Red Wings (14th, 19th on road)
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (25th, 25th at home), Hurricanes (19th, 15th on road)
• Detroit last won in Philly back in January of 1997 in a game which featured a huge hit by Eric Lindros on Vladimir Konstantinov along the boards.

Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic