Flyers-Sabres: Game 27 Preview

12-14-2017_FlyersvsSabres_3rd_credKateFrese

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

An extended road trip in early November helped the Flyers get on a bit of a hot streak. Perhaps another one will have the same effect.

The Flyers hit the road for the first of five games by facing the Buffalo Sabres, with the recent memory that their last trip to Buffalo was not a successful one.

Game time is at 1 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Buffalo Sabres GP G A P
Claude Giroux 26 10 22 32 Jack Eichel 29 7 27 34
Jake Voracek 26 7 14 21 Jeff Skinner 29 20 9 29
Sean Couturier 26 10 10 20 Sam Reinhart 29 8 16 24
Travis Konecny 26 8 10 18 Jason Pominville 27 9 9 18
Wayne Simmonds 25 9 4 13 Rasmus Ristolainen 29 3 14 17
 
Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux 53 Jeff Skinner
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 5 A, 7 P, E Last 5 Games: 2 G, 1 A, 3 P, +6
 
As the Flyers captain goes, so does their captain. Claude Giroux has seven points in the last five games and looks to continue his recent stretch.
 
Jeff Skinner continues to light up the NHL with 20 goals on the season, but has cooled off a little bit with two goals and one assist in the last five games. Still, he's a Flyer killer, so he could easily heat back up in this one.
 
Goalie Matchup
41 Anthony Stolarz 72 Linus Ullmark
4 GP, 1-1-1, 3.19 GAA, .901 SV% 9 GP, 5-0-3, 2.71 GAA, .921 SV%

Anthony Stolarz figures to get another start, but with a back-to-back this weekend, nothing is certain. Stolarz was solid in Thursday's loss, keeping the Flyers in the game after allowing a weak goal early.

The Sabres announced that usual starter Carter Hutton is dealing with an injury, so Linus Ullmark gets the start in goal on Saturday. The Sabres have played well in front of Ullmark. He has a 5-0-3 record and 2.71 GAA.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Brian Elliott, Sean Couturier, Corban Knight

Scratches: Phil Varone, Christian Folin

Left Wing Center Right Wing
25 James van Riemsdyk 28 Claude Giroux 11 Travis Konecny
93 Jake Voracek 19 Nolan Patrick 17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl 21 Scott Laughton 22 Dale Weise
23 Oskar Lindblom 15 Jori Lehtera 40 Jordan Weal
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

Sean Couturier is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Jordan Weal comes back into the lineup. The rest of the lines are shuffled due to Couturier's injury.

Sabres Projected Lineup

Injuries: Jason Pominville, Conor Sheary, Marco Scandella, Scott Wilson, Jake McCabe, Casey Nelson

Scratches: Remi Elie, Matt Tennyson

Left Wing Center Right Wing
53 Jeff Skinner 9 Jack Eichel 23 Sam Reinhart
72 Tage Thompson 37 Casey Mittelstadt 21 Kyle Okposo
43 Conor Sheary 71 Evan Rodrigues 17 Vladimir Sobotka
10 Patrik Berglund 22 Johan Larsson 28 Zemgus Girgensons
Defense    
24 Lawrence Pilut 55 Rasmus Ristolainen  
26 Rasmus Dahlin 4 Zach Bogosian  
82 Nathan Beaulieu 48 Matt Hunwick  
Goalie    
72 Sergei Bobrovsky    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (28th, 25th on road), Sabres (20th, 12th at home)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (30th, 28th on road), Sabres (15th, 9th at home) 
  • Recent History vs. Sabres
    • Dec. 14, 2017 – Flyers 2, Sabres 1 (at PHI)
    • Dec. 22, 2017 – Sabres 4, Flyers 2 (at BUF)
    • Jan. 7, 2018 – Flyers 4, Sabres 1 (at PHI)
    • Nov. 21, 2018 – Sabres 4, Flyers 2 (at BUF)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Sabres
    • Claude Giroux – 34 GP, 6 G, 25 A, 31 P
    • Jake Voracek – 27 GP, 3 G, 16 A, 19 P
    • Sean Couturier – 20 GP, 4 G, 8 A, 12 P
  • Milestone Watch
    • James van Riemsdyk needs three points to reach 400 in his career.

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

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