Image courtesy of foxsports.com
The second game of the Philadelphia Flyers' three-game West Coast swing will feature a few familiar faces, as the Orange and Black visit the Los Angeles Kings today. The contest will be the first time Jeff Carter has played the Flyers since the trade, as well as the first time Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn have been to Los Angeles since they were packaged together in a deal to help send Mike Richards to the Kings.
When it comes to actual play on the ice, things won't become easier for the Flyers over the next few days. Although the Kings' offense seems to be non-existent at the moment with just three goals in their last five games, and the squad is 1-6-1 in their last eight games, Los Angeles is still one of the elite teams in the league thanks to their goaltending and defense. The Kings should dictate play solely based on the fact that they are one of the top puck-possession teams in the league while the Flyers are near the bottom of the NHL in terms of controlling the puck. It's also worth noting that Carter leads the Kings with 20 goals and Richards leads the team with 28 assists.
After rolling over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, the Orange and Black saw Zac Rinaldo return to action and provide some energy for the team as they took on the Anaheim Ducks Thursday night. Despite a strong first period and trailing by just a goal in the third period, the Flyers couldn't finish the job on the road and ultimately lost to the Ducks by the count of 5-3. With another strong start and better effort throughout perhaps Philly can end their three-game road losing streak, as the Flyers lone win in their last five tilts away from the Wells Fargo Center was a 4-3 decision against the Buffalo Sabres where Vincent Lecavalier scored the game-winner in the final seconds.
Regardless of who has been in net lately, the Flyers have struggled as a team to limit the opposition's goal production. Although Steve Mason was able to stop 33 shots on Tuesday for a shutout, the Orange and Black have allowed 42 goals over their last 11 games for a 3.82 goals against average over that span of games. In a game against an offense that can't buy a goal, something has to give. Hopefully for the Flyers, today's game won't be a situation where they limit the Kings to one or two goals, but can't find a way to beat Jonathan Quick for a low-scoring loss.
Including today's game, the Orange and Black have only four games until players leave for Sochi. With games against the San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, and Calgary Flames on deck, the Flyers will need to string together a line of impressive performances if they want to feel comfortable with where they sit in the Eastern Conference standings during the hiatus. Looking at teams also chasing the third spot in the division, the Columbus Blue Jackets have a difficult stretch of games before the break, but the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals have rather favorable tilts. For the second Wild Card spot, the Ottawa Senators have a handful of tough contests and the Red Wings will struggle before the break.
Looking at these final four games before the break, the Flyers should definitely beat the Calgary Flames, while the other three games will be tough. Philly should take advantage of their timely visit to Los Angeles and beat a goal-hungry squad before visiting San Jose to play the Sharks, who have also failed to light the lamp often recently. Another positive note is the Flyers played the Colorado Avalanche tight in their 2-1 loss earlier in the season. Hopefully home-ice advantage can help the Flyers come away with a win when the teams met again on Thursday.
RECORDS
Philadelphia Flyers
Overall: 26-23-6
Away: 12-13-5
Against the Western Conference: 8-8-2
Against the Pacific Division: 5-4-0
Los Angeles Kings
Overall: 30-20-6
Home: 16-8-3
Against the Eastern Conference: 13-6-3
Against the Metropolitan Division: 5-3-1
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Philadelphia Flyers
Scott Hartnell – Claude Giroux – Jakub Voracek
Vincent Lecavalier – Brayden Schenn – Wayne Simmonds
Steve Downie – Sean Couturier – Matt Read
Michael Raffl – Adam Hall – Zac Rinaldo
Kimmo Timonen – Braydon Coburn
Mark Streit – Nicklas Grossmann
Luke Schenn – Erik Gustafsson
Steve Mason
Ray Emery
Los Angeles Kings
Dwight King – Anze Kopitar – Jeff Carter
Trevor Lewis – Mike Richards – Justin Williams
Kyle Clifford – Jarret Stoll – Dustin Brown
Jordan Nolan – Colin Fraser – Tyler Toffoli
Drew Doughty – Jake Muzzin
Robyn Regehr – Slava Voynov
Willie Mitchell – Matt Greene
Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones
TEAM LEADERS
Philadelphia Flyers
Goals: Wayne Simmonds, 17
Assists: Claude Giroux, 34
Points: Claude Giroux, 50
Power-Play Points: Claude Giroux, 22
Plus/Minus: Erik Gustafsson, plus-8
PIMs: Zac Rinaldo, 101
Average TOI: Braydon Coburn, 22:34
GAA: Steve Mason, 2.61
Save Percentage: Steve Mason, .914
Los Angeles Kings
Goals: Jeff Carter, 20
Assists: Mike Richards, 28
Points: Anze Kopitar, 43
Power-Play Points: Anze Kopitar, 14
Plus/Minus: Anze Kopitar, plus-21
PIMs: Kyle Clifford, 63
Average TOI: Drew Doughty, 25:56
GAA: Martin Jones, 1.71
Save Percentage: Martin Jones, .940
INJURIES
Philadelphia Flyers
NONE
Los Angeles Kings
NONE
FORMER PLAYERS
Former Flyers in Los Angeles’ organization
With Los Angeles: Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Justin Williams, Colin Fraser (Drafted by Flyers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft), John Stevens (assistant coach), Dean Lombardi (General Manager),
With the Manchester Monarchs (AHL): Freddy Meyer (assistant coach)
With the Ontario Reign (ECHL): NONE
Former Kings in Philadelphia’s organization
With Philadelphia: Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, Kimmo Timonen (Drafted by the Kings in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft), Ron Hextall (Assistant General Manager)
With the Adirondack Phantoms (AHL): Terry Murray (head coach)
With the Greenville Road Warriors (ECHL): NONE
