Flyers-Sabres: Game 63 Preview

12-14-2017_FlyersvsSabres_2nd_credKateFrese-7

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Monday's trade deadline came and went without much change for the Flyers. The one roster move made was a significant one, with Wayne Simmonds heading to Nashville in a trade that returned forward Ryan Hartman and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2020.

The rest of the Flyers move forward with the remainder of the season, trying to continue the playoff push. They can leapfrog one team ahead of them in the standings on Tuesday night, as they face the Buffalo Sabres.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Buffalo Sabres GP G A P
Claude Giroux 62 18 45 63 Jack Eichel 59 21 47 62
Sean Couturier 60 25 33 58 Sam Reinhart 62 18 39 57
Jake Voracek 62 16 37 53 Jeff Skinner 62 36 20 56
Travis Konecny 62 18 19 37 Rasmus Ristolainen 62 5 33 38
James van Riemsdyk 46 16 14 30 Rasmus Dahlin 62 8 28 36
 
Player to Watch
38 Ryan Hartman 23 Sam Reinhart
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 1 A, 2 P, E Last 5 Games: 5 G, 2 A, 7 P, -3
 
Ryan Hartman makes his Flyers debut and gets his first chance to make an impression on his new team. He has just two points in his last five games, but should see an uptick in minutes, which should help.
 
Sam Reinhart has four goals in the last two games and seven points in his last five games. While there have been others that have put together better seasons, Reinhart has been one of Buffalo's hottest players lately.
 
Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 35 Linus Ullmark
17 GP, 7-7-0, 2.54 GAA, .917 SV% 28 GP, 13-8-4, 3.03 GAA, .909 SV%

Brian Elliott made 40 saves in the win on Saturday in the Stadium Series, his first start since Nov. 15. That has earned him another start on Tuesday against Buffalo.

With regular starter Carter Hutton going against Toronto on Monday night, Linus Ullmark gets the start on Tuesday against the Flyers. Ullmark has lost his last three starts, allowed four goals or more in two of them. 

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Carter Hart, Michal Neuvirth, Sam Morin

Scratches: Phil Varone

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 19 Nolan Patrick 11 Travis Konecny
23 Oskar Lindblom 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
25 James van Riemsdyk 21 Scott Laughton 38 Ryan Hartman
12 Michael Raffl 10 Corban Knight  
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 6 Travis Sanheim  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 3 Radko Gudas  
8 Robert Hagg 47 Andrew MacDonald 61 Phil Myers
Goalie    
37 Brian Elliott    

Lineup Notes

After a series of roster moves on Monday, the Flyers will have Ryan Hartman in the lineup. The Flyers will use seven defensemen and 11 forwards in the lineup. The assumption is Phil Varone will be the forward out of the lineup, though nothing was officially announced. 

Sabres Projected Lineup

Injuries: Casey Mittelstadt

Scratches: Casey Nelson, Matt Hunwick

Left Wing Center Right Wing
53 Jeff Skinner 9 Jack Eichel  29 Jason Pominville
43 Conor Sheary  71 Evan Rodrigues 23 Sam Reinhart
72 Tage Thompson 17 Vladimir Sobotka  21 Kyle Okposo
20 Scott Wilson 22 Johan Larsson  28 Zemgus Girgensons
Defense    
19 Jake McCabe 55 Rasmus Ristolainen  
26 Rasmus Dahlin 4 Zach Bogosian  
6 Marco Scandella 62 Brandon Montour  
Goalie    
35 Linus Ullmark    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (T-21st, 15th at home), Sabres (18th, T-26th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th, 23rd at home), Sabres (5th, T-16th on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Sabres
    • Nov. 21, 2018 – Sabres 5, Flyers 2 (at BUF)
    • Dec. 8, 2018 – Flyers 6, Sabres 2 (at BUF)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Sabres
    • Claude Giroux -35 GP, 7 G, 28 A, 35 P
    • Jake Voracek – 28 GP, 3 G, 17 A, 20 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 34 GP, 14 G, 7 A, 21 P
    • Brian Elliott – 16 GP, 12-2-2, 1.81 GAA, .939 SV%
  • Milestone Watch
    • Sean Couturier needs one assist to reach 200 for his career.
    • Radko Gudas needs two points to reach 100 for his career.

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

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