A long layoff hurt the Flyers on Friday night. Lucky for them, there is not much time to dwell on the recent opast and a chance at redemption waiting on Saturday.
Redemption comes in two forms in this Saturday night game between the Flyers and the Montreal Canadiens. The Flyers had a three-game winning streak snapped by Columbus on Friday in a 4-3 loss where all the ill-effects of a five-day break were on display. The Flyers also blew a 3-0 third-period lead to Montreal on Oct. 11, falling in a shootout, 4-3.
The opening face-off from Montreal is set for 7 p.m.
The Flyers are trying to rebound from Friday's loss and Craig Berube put in a call for all lines to step up. The scoring in Friday's game came predominently from the first line.
There are no complaints about the play of Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek. Giroux is on a four-game point streak and has three goals in his last two games. Voracek is second in the NHL in points – trailing Sidney Crosby by one – and has points in nine straight games, tying a career high.
Prior to Friday's game, the third line of Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn and Matt Read had started to click. But the Flyers other two lines have been invisible, even during a three-game winning streak.
In goal, the Flyers will likely start Ray Emery. Emery played four straight games for the Flyers in October, including the Flyers loss to Montreal earlier this season, but had since given way to Steve Mason again. Mason has started for the Flyers in each of the last five games. Emery is 4-1-1 with a 2.74 GAA.
Montreal enters holding the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 12-4-1 record and 25 points in the standings.
The Canadiens are led by Max Pacioretty. The forward leads the team with eight goals and 13 points.
Three other Montreal forwards have at least five goals on the season. Tomas Plekanec has six and Alex Galchenyuk and Lars Eller each have five.
Defensively, the Canadiens are led by P.K. Subban. He has three goals and six assists this season.
The Canadiens also recently added veteran defenseman Sergei Gonchar to the blue line. Gonchar was acquired in a trade that sent Travis Moen to the Dallas Stars.
Carey Price will get the start in goal. Price is a big reason for the Canadiens hot start, posting a 10-3-1 record and a 2.45 GAA in 14 games.
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (4th, T-24th on road), Canadiens (28th, 17th at home)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (25th, 30th on road), Canadiens (10th, T-9th at home)
- The Flyers fell to the Canadiens at home on Oct. 11. The Flyers took a 3-0 lead into the third before Montreal rallied and eventually won, 4-3, in a shootout. Michael Raffl scored the game's first goal and Wayne Simmonds added a pair of goals. Ray Emery stopped 35 shots in the loss.
- Milestone Watch: R.J. Umberger needs one assist for 200 in his career. Brayden Schenn needs four points to reach 100 for his career.
Flyers scratches: Andrew MacDonald, Michael Raffl, Luke Schenn, Blair Jones
Flyers Projected Lineup
Line 1: Wayne Simmonds-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Line 2: R.J Umberger-Vincent Lecavalier-Jason Akeson
Line 3: Brayden Schenn-Sean Couturier-Matt Read
Line 4: Zac Rinaldo–Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Chris VandeVelde
D-Pair 1: Nick Grossmann-Mark Streit
D-Pair 2: Michael Del Zotto-Nick Schultz
D-Pair 3: Braydon Coburn-Carlo Colaiacovo
Goalie: Ray Emery
Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Kevin Durso is the Managing Editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
