The Flyers open the 2014-15 season against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night. The Flyers were 0-2-1 against the Bruins in 2013-14. (Photo by Amy Irvin/38Photography)
One goal separated the Flyers from the second round of the playoffs and their postseason fate, a first-round exit at the hands of the New York Rangers. That was the last time the Flyers took the ice.
But that was April. This is October. And the 2014-15 NHL season is upon us. The Flyers open the new slate in Boston, facing the Bruins at T.D. Garden on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.
The Flyers made minimal changes to the lineup, adding R.J. Umberger and Michael Del Zotto. But returning are familiar faces, headlined by Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek and goalie Steve Mason.
Giroux and Voracek combined for 51 goals and 148 points during the 2013-14 season. Mason posted a 33-18-7 record with a 2.50 GAA and .917 save percentage.
Jason Akeson, who scored the only goal in the Flyers Game 7 loss to the Rangers, also finds a more permanent place in the lineup this season.
Any new faces on the Flyers are partially the result of injuries. Kimmo Timonen is out long-term and his career is in jeopardy after blood clots in his legs were discovered during the offseason. That prompted the move for Del Zotto.
Wayne Simmonds is day-to-day with a lower body injury and may miss the season opener on Wednesday night. His absence won’t be long, but takes away a huge scoring threat. Simmonds scored 29 goals and added 31 assists last season.
The Bruins return with a majority of the same players that have established them as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference year after year.
Patrice Bergeron, Milan Lucic and David Krejci power the offense while captain Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg patrol the blue line.
Krejci suffered an injury on Saturday which will prevent him from playing in Wednesday's opener, opening the door for Bruins enforcer Bobby Robins.
Reilly Smith and Torey Krug remain two of the top young players in the game today and serve as strong two-way players with scoring talent and good defensive skills.
In goal, the Flyers face the difficult task of solving Tuukka Rask. Rask won the Vezina Trophy in 2013-14, posting a 36-15-6 record with a 2.04 GAA and .930 save percentage.
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (8th, 1st on road), Bruins (3rd, 8th at home)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (7th, 2nd on road) Bruins (8th, 13th at home)
- The Flyers were 0-2-1 against the Bruins last season. The Bruins claimed a 6-1 win on Jan. 25 and a 5-2 win on April 5. The Flyers lost in a shootout on March 30, falling 4-3.
Flyers scratches: Blair Jones, Jay Rosehill, Nick Schultz
Flyers Projected Lineup
Line 1: Brayden Schenn-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Line 2: Matt Read-Sean Couturier-Wayne Simmonds
Line 3: Michael Raffl-R.J. Umberger-Jason Akeson
Line 4: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Vincent Lecavalier-Zac Rinaldo
D-Pair 1: Andrew MacDonald-Braydon Coburn
D-Pair 2: Nick Grossmann-Mark Streit
D-Pair 3: Michael Del Zotto-Luke Schenn
Goalie: Steve Mason
Where to Watch
TV: NBCSN
Radio: 93.3 WMMR
Kevin Durso is the lead beat writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
