Photographer: Kate Frese

Game 45 Preview: Flyers head to Pittsburgh for a match up with the Penguins

By
Bill Minchin
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Bill Minchin Sports Editor

All posts by Bill Minchin
Sports Editor

Published21 Jan 2016

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Photo courtesy of Kate Frese

 

The Philadelphia Flyers (20-16-8) will look to get back on the winning track as they head to the Consol Energy Center for a battle with the Pittsburgh Penguins (21-17-7). This is the first of four meetings between the clubs this season. The Penguins are one point ahead of the Flyers in the Metropolitan Division. Game time is 7:00.

 
Philadelphia has won eight straight meetings with Pittsburgh dating back to the 2013-14 season. All time the Flyers are 13-2-1 in Pittsburgh's new home.

 
Flyers Leaders GP G A P Penguins Leaders GP G A P
Claude Giroux 44 13 22 35 Evgeni Malkin 45 20 24 44
Jake Voracek 44 5 26    31 Sidney Crosby 44 14 23 37
Wayne Simmonds 44 12 13 25 Kris Letang 35 6 24 30
Brayden Schenn 42 10 12 22 Phil Kessel 45 12 15 27
Sean Couturier 38 9 13 22 Patric Hornqvist 45 10 13 23
 
Player to Watch
19 J. Weal 71 E. Malkin
Last 5 Games: 0G, 0A, 0P, Even Last 5 Games: 1G, 5A, 6P, +2
 
 
Jordan Weal will make his Flyers debut tonight. weal was acquired from Los Angeles in the trade that sent Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn to the Kings. It looks as though he might play the wing on a line with Brayden Schenn and Michael Raffl. Weal enters the lineup in place of the injured Sean Couturier.
 

With 44 points, Evgeni Malkin leads the Penguins offense in both goals and assists. Tonight he will have the rare chance to play against the Flyers without having to deal with Couturier. Since the young Flyers center has entered the league, he has given Malkin fits. It will most likely be up to Pierre-Edouard Bellmare and his linemates to check the Malkin line. 

Goalie Matchup
35 Steve Mason 29 M. Fleury
10-11-6, 2.67 GAA, .915 SV% 16-11-5, 2.28 GAA, .925 SV%

Steve Mason will get the start between the pipes for Philadelphia. Mason took the loss in tuesday's game against the Maple Leafs. The Flyers goaltender has played well against Pittsburgh since coming to Philadelphia. 

Marc-Andre Fleury is having another decent season. His win to loss ratio may be down from what has become his normal but the goals against and save percentage are still good. Fleury is more than capable of stealing games despite his recent struggles against the Flyers.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Sean Couturier, Brandon Manning

Left Wing Center Right Wing
93 Jake Voracek 28 Claude Giroux 17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl 10 Brayden Schenn 19 Jordan Weal
76 Chris VandeVelde 78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare 25 Ryan White
24 Matt Read 21 Scott Laughton 20 R.J. Umberger
Defense    
15 Michael Del Zotto 3 Radko Gudas  
32 Mark Streit 55 Nick Schultz  
82 Evgeny Medvedev 53 Shayne Gostisbehere  
Goalie    
35 Steve Mason    

Sean Couturier will miss tonight's game with a lower body injury. The defense will remain the same.

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (27th, 20th on road), Penguins (12th, 14th at home) 
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (24th, 17th on road), Penguins  (6th, 15th at home)
  • The Flyers are 5-4-1 in their last ten games overall. 
  • Philadelphia is 150-95-30 all time against the Penguins but are below .500 in Pittsburgh going 55-60-22.

Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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