Flyers vs. Canadiens preview: We’re in Montreal [hopefully] still going strong

And we’re back, folks! After a little bit longer of a break than we’ve had recently the Flyers are back for another installment of Saturday hockey. Their last few gos haven’t gone too well, but those were matinees, so maybe that’s totally different? Who knows.

In any event, since our last Saturday game, the Flyers have been doing pretty well. They put together two wins in a row this week against Minnesota and Boston, and finally are starting to look like they’re putting things together. And, for the first time in what feels like approximately five thousand years, give or take, they’ll have the chance to take this winning streak to three, and hit the break on a high note.

Standing between them and this, of course, is the Montreal Canadiens, who are off to a pretty good start to the season. Carey Price is getting back to being Carey Price, and the Canadiens are right in the mix for a playoff spot, so far. The Flyers are in a bit of luck, as Price started last night in their 4-1 win over the Blue Jackets, so we likely won’t be seeing him tonight. But the Flyers are still going to have their work cut out for them, and you know what that means—they’re going to have to do, well, at least three things in order to pick up this win.

1. Score some goals

We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves, but it looks like the Flyers might be turning a corner? Maybe? Even just a little bit? The team that couldn’t score goals to save their life not too long ago has now recorded eleven in their last two games. And maybe that isn’t a clip that’s sustainable, but it seems like they’re finding ways to produce more offense more effectively than they have been, of late. So, even if they aren’t scoring a hat trick every night, they’re tapping into something, and they’re going to need to keep that rolling.

That said, another hat trick would be pretty fun, right? We certainly wouldn’t complain about that.

2. Prevent some goals

Does it sound like we’re getting a little basic with these keys to the game? Yeah, maybe, but hear us out. The Canadiens are sixth in the conference in goals for, and have been pretty consistently been able to generate offense through the season to date, so the Flyers stand to have their work cut out for them, in working to keep them quiet. It looks like Carter Hart’s going to be getting the start tonight, and he’s been playing some decidedly good and solid hockey of late, and he’ll have a chance to extend that streak of good play up in the Great White North. He wasn’t perfect on Wednesday against Boston (rebound control, hello), but he’s getting comfortable and making the big save, and we can see him making progress. And each new game is a chance to do a little bit more of that.

3. Let’s keep the five forward power play rolling?

Have you guys heard that the Flyers are trying this new thing, and it involves playing five forwards on the top power play unit? It would be understandable if you missed that, I don’t think people have really been talking about it all that much... oh wait.

Jokes aside, the Flyers are trying a new thing, and it’s getting them some results so far—to the tune of a goal in each of their last two games, since they’ve put it in place. And we’re going to make an acknowledgement about not getting too excited because it’s a small sample size and all that, but hey, the power play that couldn’t score a goal to save their lives mere weeks ago is now scoring some, and we’ll certainly take that. So, more of that, please? Let’s see if they can keep that streak going, as well.

Puck drops tonight at 7, and you can check out the Flyers’ projected roster below.

Forwards

van Riemsdyk - Giroux - Konecny

Lindblom - Couturier - Voracek

Laughton - Patrick - Simmonds

Lehtera - Varone - Raffl

Defensemen

Provorov - Sanheim

Gostisbehere - MacDonald

Hagg - Gudas

Goalies

Hart

(McKenna)