Steve Mason made 34 saves in the Flyers win against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 30. The Flyers host the Predators on Thursday. (Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com)
Goalie Steve Mason stole the show in the last meeting between the two teams. Now on home ice, the Philadelphia Flyers could use a repeat performance from their leading man between the pipes.
The Flyers host the Nashville Predators from Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night, two days after snapping out of a two-game losing streak with Vincent Lecavalier's game-winning goal in the final seconds in Buffalo. The opening face-off is at 7 p.m.
Nashville has not played as advertised, likely due to many absences throughout the season. The 19-21-7 Predators have spent time without starting goalie Pekka Rinne and captain Shea Weber.
Weber missed the first meeting between the Predators and Flyers, but will on the ice tonight.
Weber is second on the team in points behind David Legwand. Legwand has seven goals and 21 assists. Craig Smith, Mike Fisher and Patric Hornqvist have also been top scorers for the team.
Rookie defenseman Seth Jones joins Weber as a top member of the Nashville blue line.
In goal, the Predators will start Carter Hutton. The Flyers had faced Marec Mazanec in their previous game against the Predators. Hutton, a former Flyers prospect, is 8-7-2 with a 2.95 GAA.
The Predators have hovered around .500 all season, going 4-3-3 in their last 10 games. They have also allowed 138 goals this season.
The Flyers got the third line back on the scoresheet with the help of Matt Read and Lecavalier. There is a chance Steve Downie returns to the lineup, but he is listed as a game-time decision.
Scott Hartnell, who scored in Tuesday's win, was seen in a walking boot on Wednesday. However, he will play in Thursday's game.
Jake Voracek has been red hot of late, scoring four goals and adding two assists in his last six games.
Mason returns in goal for the second straight game. He is 19-11-4 with a 2.47 GAA.
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (T-15th, 28th at home), Predators (7th, 13th on road)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (7th, 6th at home), Predators (T-13th, 5th on road)
- The Flyers defeated the Nashville Predators on Nov. 30, 3-2, in a shootout. Steve Mason made 34 saves in regulation and added three stops in the shootout. Vincent Lecavalier scored the only goal of the shootout.
- Milestone Watch: Wayne Simmonds needs three goals for 100 in his NHL career. Vincent Lecavalier needs seven points for 900 in his career. Steve Downie is one assist away from 100 in his career.
Flyers scratches: Erik Gustafsson, Hal Gill, Jay Rosehill, Zac Rinaldo
Flyers Projected Lineup
Line 1: Michael Raffl-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Line 2: Scott Hartnell-Brayden Schenn-Wayne Simmonds
Line 3: Matt Read-Sean Couturier-Vincent Lecavalier
Line 4: Steve Downie-Chris VandeVelde-Adam Hall
D-Pair 1: Kimmo Timonen-Braydon Coburn
D-Pair 2: Nick Grossmann-Mark Streit
D-Pair 3: Luke Schenn-Andrej Meszaros
Goalie: Steve Mason
Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Kevin Durso is the lead beat writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
