Flyers-Stars: Game 77 Preview

12-16-2017_FlyersvsStars_3rd_2_credKateFrese-6

(Kate Frese/SB Nation)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

We're down to six games remaining on the Flyers regular season scheduled and with a playoff spot still on the line, every game holds meaning.

The Flyers continue a three-game road trip by taking on the Dallas Stars, a team that has lost eight straight games and is starting to see their playoff hopes slip away.

Game time is set for 8:30 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Dallas Stars GP G A P
Claude Giroux 76 26 65 91 Tyler Seguin 76 39 32 71
Jake Voracek 76 19 61 80 Jamie Benn 76 28 41 69
Sean Couturier 76 31 40 71 Alexander Radulov 76 26 39 65
Shayne Gostisbehere 72 13 44 57 John Klingberg 76 7 54 61
Wayne Simmonds 69 23 21 44 Mattias Janmark 75 19 15 34
 
Player to Watch
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 91 Tyler Seguin
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 3 A, 5 P, -6 Last 5 Games: 2 G, 1 A, 3 P, -3
 
Shayne Gostisbehere is closing in on a historical season. With just three points, he will become the first Flyers defenseman to record 60 points in a season since Garry Galley in 1993-94. Gostisbehere has been piling up points lately too, so the milestone is within reach.
 
The Stars are starting to dim in the 2017-18 season with the losses piling up, but one player who continues to provide points is Tyler Seguin. Seguin has been cold lately with just two goals and one assist in the last five games, but he has already eclipsed his career high in goals and is just one goal away from a 40-goal season. 
 
Goalie Matchup
34 Petr Mrazek 32 Kari Lehtonen
13-12-5, 3.03 GAA, .901 SV% 12-13-3, 2.55 GAA, .911 SV%

The goalie carousel keeps spinning for the Flyers. After Alex Lyon got back-to-back starts, only to be pulled in Sunday's game, Petr Mrazek is back between the pipes for the Flyers. Mrazek stopped 19 of 21 shots in the overtime loss on Sunday, but has struggled lately. He was pulled twice in his previous three starts.

The Flyers will face Kari Lehtonen, who has been filling in for the Stars as the starting netminder with Ben Bishop out with injury. Lehtonen has been solid in the backup role this season, but has struggled in his career against the Flyers with a 1-11-3 record and 3.45 GAA.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Brian Elliott, Michal Neuvirth, Johnny Oduya, Michael Raffl

Scratches: Dale Weise, Taylor Leier, Robert Hagg

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 14 Sean Couturier 11 Travis Konecny
54 Oskar Lindblom 19 Nolan Patrick 93 Jake Voracek
40 Jordan Weal 51 Valtteri Filppula 17 Wayne Simmonds
15 Jori Lehtera 21 Scott Laughton 24 Matt Read
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
6 Travis Sanheim 47 Andrew MacDonald  
23 Brandon Manning 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
34 Petr Mrazek    

Lineup Notes

The Flyers will go with the same lineup as their last game on Sunday.

Stars Projected Lineup

Injuries: Ben Bishop, Martin Hanzel

Scratches: Gemel Smith, Dillon Heatherington, Julius Honka, Curtis McKenzie

Left Wing Center Right Wing
14 Jamie Benn 91 Tyler Seguin 47 Alexander Radulov
21 Antoine Roussel 12 Radek Faksa 18 Tyler Pitlick
13 Mattias Janmark 17 Devin Shore 25 Brett Ritchie
16 Jason Dickinson 90 Jason Spezza 40 Remi Elie
Defense    
23 Esa Lindell 3 John Klingberg  
33 Marc Methot 28 Stephen Johns  
2 Dan Hamhuis 29 Greg Pateryn  
Goalie    
32 Kari Lehtonen    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (T-16th, 5th on road), Stars (19th, 19th at home)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th, 22nd on road), Stars (11th, T-8th at home) 
  • Recent History vs. Stars
    • Dec. 16, 2017 – Flyers 2, Stars 1 (at PHI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Stars
    • Shayne Gostisbehere – 4 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 4 P
    • Jake Voracek – 22 GP, 3 G, 16 A, 19 P
    • Claude Giroux – 14 GP, 3 G, 9 A, 12 P
    • Petr Mrazek – 4 GP, 1-2-0, 2.58 GAA
  • Milestone Watch
    • Jake Voracek needs one assist to reach 300 as a Flyer and six assists to reach 400 in his career.

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

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