Flyers-Senators: Game 4 Preview

2-3-2018_FlyersvsSens_2nd_credKateFrese-6

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It's hard to forget about the embarrassment from the Flyers in Tuesday's home opener, but they will have to turn the page quickly, heading back to the ice against the Ottawa Senators on the road on Wednesday night.

It provides the Flyers with a chance to quickly put the loss behind them, but against a Senators team that so many have predicted will be the worst in the league, don't expect it to be easy.

Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Ottawa Senators GP G A P
Wayne Simmonds 3 3 1 4 Thomas Chabot 3 2 3 5
Claude Giroux 3 0 4 4 Ryan Dzingel 3 2 2 4
Jake Voracek 3 0 3 3 Zack Smith 3 1 3 4
Robert Hagg 3 1 1 2 Dylan DeMelo 3 1 2 3
Mikhail Vorobyev 3 1 1 2 Chris Tierney 3 1 2 3
 
Player to Watch
9 Ivan Provorov 72 Thomas Chabot
Last 5 Games: 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, -5 Last 5 Games: 2 G, 3 A, 5 P, +2
 
There wasn't really a bright spot from Tuesday's game, but Ivan Provorov in particular struggled more than usual. He's a minus-5 so far this season and has been prone to a number of mistakes. The fourth game of the season provides a clean slate for a fresh start.
 
Thomas Chabot isn't going to instantly replace everything that Erik Karlsson was, but he's doing a pretty good job trying so far. The skilled defenseman has been solid so far this season and leads the team with five points in three games.
 
Goalie Matchup
33 Calvin Pickard 41 Craig Anderson
0-0-0, -.– GAA, — SV% 1-0-1, 3.47 GAA, .913 SV%

After Brian Elliott took a beating in an 8-2 loss on Tuesday, Calvin Pickard gets into the net for the first time with the Flyers. It's his first NHL start since Dec. 29, 2017.

Craig Anderson gets the start for the Senators. Anderson's last start was a 37-save win over the Toronto Maple Leafs and he has great numbers against the Flyers with 12 wins in 22 starts and a 2.75 GAA.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: James van Riemsdyk, Michal Neuvirth, Corban Knight

Scratches: Dale Weise, Christian Folin

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
23 Oskar Lindblom 19 Nolan Patrick 11 Travis Konecny
40 Jordan Weal 24 Mikhail Vorobyev 17 Wayne Simmonds
21 Scott Laughton 15 Jori Lehtera 12 Michael Raffl
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
6 Travis Sanheim 3 Radko Gudas  
8 Robert Hagg 47 Andrew MacDonald  
Goalie    
33 Calvin Pickard    

Lineup Notes

With no morning skate, the Flyers will presumably go with the same lineup as Tuesday unless something changes during warmups.

Senators Projected Lineup

Injuries: Clarke MacArthur, Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Scratches: Paul Carey, Ben Harpur

Left Wing Center Right Wing
18 Ryan Dzingel 15 Zack Smith 61 Mark Stone
7 Brady Tkachuk 95 Matt Duchene 89 Mikkel Boedker
59 Alex Formenton 71 Chris Tierney 9 Bobby Ryan
56 Magnus Paajarvi 36 Colin White 10 Tom Pyatt
Defense    
72 Thomas Chabot 2 Dylan DeMelo  
58 Maxime Lajoie 5 Cody Ceci  
74 Mark Borowiecki 6 Chris Wideman  
Goalie    
41 Craig Anderson    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (T-15th), Senators (T-21st)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (T-16th), Sharks (T-24th) 
  • Recent History vs. Senators
    • Oct. 26, 2017 – Senators 5, Flyers 4 (at OTT)
    • Feb. 3, 2018 – Senators 4, Flyers 3 F/SO (at PHI)
    • Feb. 24, 2018 – Flyers 5, Senators 3 (at OTT)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Senators
    • Jake Voracek – 25 GP, 9 G, 12 A, 21 P
    • Sean Couturier – 21 GP, 8 G, 8 A, 16 P
    • Wayne Simmonds – 23 GP, 9 G, 7 A, 16 P
    • Calvin Pickard – 3 GP, 0-3-0, 3.45 GAA, .900 SV%

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

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