Flyers

Flyers-Wild: Game 46 Preview

By
Kevin Durso
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Kevin Durso Sports Editor

I have been writing for Sports Talk Philly since 2011. Currently editor and lead writer of Philadelphia Flyers coverage. Co-host of the YWT Podcast. I also am Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN-FM in South Jersey. I graduated from Cabrini University in 2014.

All posts by Kevin Durso
Sports Editor

Published14 Jan 2019

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11-12-2016_FlyersvsWild_1st_credKateFrese-26

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor Flyers-Wild: Game 46 Preview

The Flyers snapped an eight-game losing streak on Thursday and returned right back to the loss column on Saturday in New Jersey, falling 3-2. But don't be fooled by the score. The Flyers really were not very involved in the game and a meaningless goal with two seconds left made the final score appear much closer.

The Minnesota Wild have been clinging to a playoff spot among a mass of Western Conference teams that are hovering around the wildcard. They are the Flyers next opponent as the season continues on.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Minnesota Wild GP G A P
Claude Giroux 45 14 34 48 Zach Parise 43 19 21 40
Jake Voracek 45 11 25 36 Mikael Granlund 44 12 27 39
Sean Couturier 43 16 18 34 Ryan Suter 44 4 24 28
Travis Konecny 45 11 13 24 Eric Staal 43 13 14 27
Wayne Simmonds 45 13 6 19 Jared Spurgeon 44 7 19 26
 
Player to Watch
14 Sean Couturier 11 Zach Parise
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 4 A, 5 P, +1 Last 5 Games: 1 G, 4 A, 5 P, +1
 
The late goal on Saturday gave Sean Couturier his first goal in five games. He also has five points in his last three games. For a team that has struggled offensively, Couturier has been providing a lot of the offense of late.
 
Zach Parise has not scored a goal in four games, but prior to that, he had four goals and nine points in his previous five games. As a longtime foe of the Flyers from his days in New Jersey, Parise seems to come up with a big goal or play against the Flyers always.
 
Goalie Matchup
79 Carter Hart 40 Devan Dubnyk
9 GP, 3-5-1, 2.54 GAA, .916 SV% 36 GP, 17-15-3, 2.62 GAA, .914 SV%

Carter Hart's last game was decent, making 23 saves in a loss in New Jersey. Hart was tested early and often and the goals were more on the team in front of him than the goalie himself, but he continues to be poised and keep games close. 

Devan Dubnyk had a four-game winning streak snapped in a bad loss to Detroit on Saturday, allowing five goals on 37 shots. His four wins before that start including a 38-save win over Toronto in a 4-3 decision and a 32-save shutout against Montreal.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Michal Neuvirth, Brian Elliott, Anthony Stolarz, Corban Knight

Scratches: Jori Lehtera, Christian Folin

Left Wing Center Right Wing
25 James van Riemsdyk 28 Claude Giroux 11 Travis Konecny
23 Oskar Lindblom 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
21 Scott Laughton 19 Nolan Patrick 17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl 44 Phil Varone 22 Dale Weise
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 6 Travis Sanheim  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 47 Andrew MacDonald  
8 Robert Hagg 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
79 Carter Hart    

Lineup Notes

Andrew MacDonald likely slots back into the lineup after missing some time with an injury. Christian Folin comes out.

Wild Projected Lineup

Injuries: Mathew Dumba

Scratches: Eric Fehr, Matt Hendricks 

Left Wing Center Right Wing
16 Jason Zucker 9 Mikko Koivu 64 Mikael Granlund
18 Jordan Greenway 12 Eric Staal 22 Nino Niederreiter
11 Zach Parise 3 Charlie Coyle 19 Luke Kunin
23 J.T. Brown 14 Joel Eriksson Ek 17 Marcus Foligno
Defense    
20 Ryan Suter 46 Jared Spurgeon  
25 Jonas Brodin 29 Greg Pateryn  
36 Nick Seeler 39 Nate Prosser  
Goalie    
40 Devan Dubnyk    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (30th, T-24th at home), Wild (9th, 19th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (26th, T-21st at home), Wild (4th, T-16th on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Wild
    • Nov. 11, 2017 – Wild 1, Flyers 0 (at PHI)
    • Nov. 14, 2017 – Wild 3, Flyers 0 (at MIN)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Wild
    • Jake Voracek – 21 GP, 3 G, 14 A, 17 P
    • Wayne Simmonds – 23 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 P
  • Milestone Watch
    • Travis Konecny needs one points to reach 100 for his career.
    • Claude Giroux needs three assists to reach 500 for his career.

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