The Philadelphia Flyers (11-14-6) are set to begin an eight game road trip. The first stop is the Air Canada Center for a tilt with the Toronto Maple Leafs (19-10-3). This is the first of three meetings between the two clubs and first of two in Toronto. Game time is 7:00.
Tonight's game is the second of a three in four stretch. The Flyers will play in Winnepeg tomorrow. Toronto also has a back to back as they face off against the Blackhawks Sunday.
Philadelphia is coming off a 2-1 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday night. Jakub Voracek scored the only goal for the Flyers in regulation. Steve Mason made 31 saves in the loss.
The team will be without Mason's services for both games this weekend. Mason went down in practice yesterday with what is being listed as an upper body injury. He did not make the trip with the team. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated Monday.
Mason has been outsatnding since his poor October. His win/loss record doesn't reflect his play. Most nights it is Mason's play that has keep the Flyers in games they shouldn't be in.
Ray Emery will get the start in goal tonight. Emery is 5-4-1 with a .899 save percentage and 3.05 goals against average in his 11 appearances so far this season. Emery figures to start both games this weekend.
The Flyers have seen better secondary scoring of late but not consistently enough to string together wins. The Flyers currently have only two players in double digits in goals. The team must get more consistent and balanced scoring throughout the lineup if they are to get back into playoff contention.
Toronto is coming off a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Prior to that loss, the Maple Leafs had won six straight.
Toronto leads the NHL averaging 3.38 goals a game. Phil Kessel leads the way. He leads the team with 17 goals and 34 points. Former Flyer James van Riemsdyk is second on the team with 28 points on 13 goals and 15 assists.
Beyond those two players, Toronto boasts six players with at least 20 points. They are a team that is comfortable winning high scoring games, Defensively they rank near the bottom third of the league giving up 2.81 goals per game. Expect tonight to be a wide open game with lots of scoring chances at both ends.
Jonathan Bernier has shouldered the load in net. He is 13-7-3 on the year with a .922 save percentage and a 2.55 goals against average. Bernier figures to get the start tonight.
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (5th, 12th on road), Leafs (9th, 10th at home)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (29th, 30th on road), Leafs (10th, 2oth at home)
- Last year the teams split the season series 1-1-1.
- Sean Couturier needs four points while Andrew MacDonald needs one for 100 in their respective careers.
Flyers scratches: Chris VandeVelde, Carlo Colaiacovo, Michael Del Zotto, Steve Mason, Ryan White
Flyers Projected Lineup
Line 1: Michael Raffl-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Line 2: Brayden Schenn-Scott Laughton-Wayne Simmonds
Line 3: R.J. Umberger-Sean Couturier-Matt Read
Line 4:Zac Rinaldo–Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Vincent Lecavalier
D-Pair 1: Nick Grossmann-Mark Streit
D-Pair 2: Braydon Coburn-Nick Schultz
D-Pair 3:Andrew MacDonald-Luke Schenn
Goalie: Ray Emery
Where to Watch
TV: CSN Philly
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Bill Minchin is a contruibuting writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074
