Game 18 Preview: Flyers play host to Pacific Division leading Kings

Photo courtesy of Kate Frese

The Philadelphia Flyers (6-8-3) are back on home ice tonight. They will face the Los Angeles Kings (11-6-0) at the Wells Fargo Center. This is the first of two meetings between the two teams and the lone game in Philadelphia. Game time is 7:00.

The Flyers had a couple of firsts last time out. Saturday's win in Carolina was the first time in which the Flyers won after allowing the first goal of a game this season. They spotted the Hurricanes two goals and managed to crawl back to force overtime.

In overtime, Jakub Voracek scored his first goal of the season to cap off the comeback and give the Flyers a 3-2 win.

Brayden Schenn, a healthy scratch on Saturday, will return to lineup for Philadelphia. He is expected to take Michael Raffl's spot on the top line. Raffl will move down to play alongside Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Chris VandeVelde.

The Flyers will be without the services of Ryan White. White was injured in Carolina and is expected to miss two to four weeks.

Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere made his season debut on Saturday for the injured Mark Streit. He played an all around solid game and assisted on the tying goal. 

Goalie Michal Neuvirth will be unavailable on Tuesday as he is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Anthony Stolarz will back up Mason as an emergency call-up from the Phantoms.

The Kings currently hold a two point lead over the Vancouver Canucks in the Pacific Division. The Kings are one of four remaining teams without an overtime loss. They have won their last two games and seven of the last ten.

Jeff Carter leads the offense with 17 points. His ten assists are tops on the team. Tyler Toffoli leads the team with ten goals and sits just one point behind Carter for the team lead in scoring.

Jonathan Quick has once again shouldered the load in goal. Quick has started 14 of 17 games so far this season. He is 8-6-0 with .912 save percentage and a 2.35 goals against average. 

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (26th, 28th at home), Kings (12th, 4th on road) 
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (25th, 22nd at home), Kings (2nd, 2nd on road)
• The Flyers won both meetings against the Kings last season. 
• The Flyers will honor the retirement of longtime great Simon Gagne before tonight's game.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Line 1: Brayden Schenn-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Line 2: Matt Read-Sean Couturier-Wayne Simmonds
Line 3: Sam Gagner-Scott Laughton-Taylor Leier
Line 4: Chris VandeVelde-Pierre-Edouard Bellmare-Michael Raffl

D-Pair 1: Michael Del Zotto-Radko Gudas
D-Pair 2: Nick Schultz-Luke Schenn
D-Pair 3: Shayne Gostisbehere-Brandon Manning

Goalie: Steve Mason

Scratches: Evgeny Medvedev, Vincent Lecavalier, Ryan White, Mark Streit, R.J. Umberger, Michal Neuvirth

Where to Watch

TV: CSN Philly

Radio: 97.5 FM

Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074