Flyers-Wild: Game 57 Preview

1-14-2019_FlyersvsWild_3rd_credKateFrese-2

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers playoff hopes took a hit with a loss to Pittsburgh on Monday at home, creating an eight-point deficit in the playoff race once again. The Flyers don't get any time to dwell on the loss.

They are right back in action on Tuesday night, taking on the Minnesota Wild, a team they defeated a month ago at the start of an eight-game winning streak.

Game time is at 8 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Minnesota Wild GP G A P
Claude Giroux 56 16 43 59 Zach Parise 55 22 26 48
Sean Couturier 54 23 25 48 Mikael Granlund 56 13 32 45
Jake Voracek 56 14 34 48 Ryan Suter 56 6 31 37
Travis Konecny 56 15 18 33 Eric Staal 55 17 20 37
James van Riemsdyk 40 13 13 26 Jared Spurgeon 56 10 22 32
 
Player to Watch
25 James van Riemsdyk 16 Jason Zucker
Last 5 Games: 0 G, 3 A, 3 P, -1 Last 5 Games: 1 G, 3 A, 4 P, +1
 
A hat trick against Minnesota on Jan. 14 marked the third straight game James van Riemsdyk had scored. Since then, he had just two goals and three assists and has gone seven games without a goal. The Flyers need him to get going again.
 
Jason Zucker has five goals in eight career games against the Flyers and always seems to find a way to make an impact against the Orange and Black.
 
Goalie Matchup
41 Anthony Stolarz 40 Devan Dubnyk
11 GP, 3-3-3, 3.26 GAA, .903 SV% 46 GP, 21-19-4, 2.57 GAA, .913 SV%

Anthony Stolarz was in goal for the end of the Flyers eight-game winning streak, a game the Flyers lost, 3-2, in a shootout. Stolarz was hardly the reason for the defeat, making 37 saves on 39 shots to get the game to the shootout.

Devan Dubnyk made starts in back-to-back games after winning against the Devils on Feb. 9 by making just 16 saves on 18 shots. He lost on Feb. 10 to the Islanders despite allowing two goals on 34 shots. Dubnyk started against the Flyers on Jan. 14 and was pulled after two periods, allowing five goals on 20 shots.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Michal Neuvirth, Brian Elliott

Scratches: Phil Myers, Justin Bailey

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
44 Phil Varone 24 Mikhail Vorobyev 12 Michael Raffl
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 6 Travis Sanheim  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 47 Andrew MacDonald  
8 Robert Hagg 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
41 Anthony Stolarz    

Lineup Notes

With no morning skate following Monday's game, any lineup changes will be learned during warmups, though none are expected.

Wild Projected Lineup

Injuries: Mikko Koivu, Mathew Dumba, Pontus Aberg

Scratches: Matt Hendricks, Brad Hunt

Left Wing Center Right Wing
11 Zach Parise 64 Mikael Granlund 3 Charlie Coyle
18 Jordan Greenway  12 Eric Staal 16 Jason Zucker
 17 Marcus Foligno 14 Joel Eriksson Ek 19 Luke Kunin
37 Kyle Rau 49 Victor Rask  21 Eric Fehr
Defense    
20 Ryan Suter 46 Jared Spurgeon  
25 Jonas Brodin 2 Anthony Bitetto  
36 Nick Seeler 29 Greg Pateryn  
Goalie    
40 Devan Dubnyk    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (23rd, 31st on road), Wild (T-11th, 13th at home)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th, T-26th on road), Wild (7th, 4th at home) 
  • Recent History vs. Wild
    • Nov. 11, 2017 – Wild 1, Flyers 0 (at PHI)
    • Nov. 14, 2017 – Wild 3, Flyers 0 (at MIN)
    • Jan. 14, 2019 – Flyers 7, Wild 4 (at PHI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Wild
    • Jake Voracek – 22 GP, 3 G, 15 A, 18 P
    • Wayne Simmonds – 24 GP, 7 G, 10 A, 17 P
    • Claude Giroux – 14 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 P
  • Milestone Watch
    • Radko Gudas needs two points to reach 100 for his career.

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 93.3 WMMR

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