Photographer: Kate Frese
Game 49 Preview: Flyers return from All-Star break, face Coyotes
I have been writing for Sports Talk Philly since 2011. Currently editor and lead writer of Philadelphia Flyers coverage. Co-host of the YWT Podcast. I also am Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN-FM in South Jersey. I graduated from Cabrini University in 2014.
All posts by Kevin DursoPublished27 Jan 2015
It's been a week since the Flyers hit the ice for an exciting win over the Penguins before breaking for the All-Star Game. Only Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek were in action over the weekend.
The rest of the team returns to the ice on Tuesday night as the Flyers host the Arizona Coyotes. The opening face-off is set for 7 p.m. from Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers begin the stretch run of the season with this game. There are 34 games remaining in the season and the Flyers are still holding out hope for a playoff run, even if that looks dim.
The Flyers will rely heavily on the two All-Stars to carry a lot of the weight. Giroux and Voracek each turned in impressive performances at the All-Star Game.
In addition, the Flyers will be looking for secondary players to step up. Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier are just a few players that need to up their game for the Flyers to succeed.
The Flyers are dealing with several absences at forward. Zac Rinaldo begins his suspension on Tuesday and Michael Raffl is out with an illness. Scott Laughton also remains out as he deals with a concussion. The Flyers called up Ryan White on Monday and brought Petr Straka up from the Phantoms on Tuesday. Straka is making his NHL debut on Tuesday.
Defensively, the Flyers will continue to use the same group and get Nick Schultz back from injury.
Steve Mason is close to returning, as the Flyers sent Rob Zepp back to Lehigh Valley. Ray Emery gets the start on Tuesday, but signs point to a start for Mason on Thursday. Emery is 8-9-1 with a 3.27 GAA and .890 save percentage.
The Coyotes have struggled for most of the season, coming in with a 16-25-5 record on the season.
The Coyotes had one player in Sunday's All-Star Game, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Ekman-Larsson has 12 goals and nine assists on the season.
Antoine Vermette and Keith Yandle are tied for the team lead in points at 30. Yandle leads the team with 26 assists.
Mikkel Boedker leads the team with 14 goals and has 28 points on the season, however, the Coyotes are without their leading scorer due to injury. Shane Doan, Martin Hanzel and Sam Gagner are also among the Coyotes leading scorers.
In goal, Mike Smith gets the start. Smith is 7-20-3 with a 3.51 GAA and .887 save percentage.
- Power Play: Flyers (5th, 2nd at home), Coyotes (7th, 3rd on road)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (T-28th, T-23rd at home), Coyotes (27th, 18th on road)
- The Coyotes defeated the Flyers on Dec. 29, 4-2. The Coyotes took a 3-0 lead before the Flyers rallied with two goals by R.J. Umberger. The Coyotes added a late empty-net goal to seal the win.
Flyers scratches: Braydon Coburn, Nick Grossmann, Scott Laughton, Michael Raffl, Zac Rinaldo
Flyers Projected Lineup
Line 1: Brayden Schenn-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Line 2: Wayne Simmonds-Sean Couturier-R.J. Umberger
Line 3: Ryan White-Petr Straka-Matt Read
Line 4: Chris VandeVelde–Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Vincent Lecavalier
D-Pair 1: Mark Streit-Andrew MacDonald
D-Pair 2: Michael Del Zotto-Nick Schultz
D-Pair 3: Carlo Colaiacovo-Luke Schenn
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 @Kevin_Durso.
