The game: 7 p.m. Eastern, NBCSP, The Fanatic 97.5
The Flyers come off the road following a lengthy, arduous trek that started promising, had a mediocre middle and ended with a clunker of sorts in Seattle. The highlights came from a functional power play (5 goals in 4 games) Matvei Michkov, Sam Ersson in the opener and Scott Laughton in the closer. The lowlights were seeing some leaky goaltending, a few blown leads and some liberties taken on a few of the Flyers’ better players that weren’t really addressed.
The good news? Well, besides the West Coast trek in the rearview mirror, the Flyers start playing games at home and (on the horizon) against teams at least in the own conference. The Flyers need to make hay at home if they are to have a hope in Hades of staying in the playoff hunt down the stretch. And what better way than to get things off on the right track against Vancouver, the one team the Flyers beat thus far?
The Flyers are still needing Nick Seeler in case you weren’t sure and the Flyers need a few players to get off the donut figure in terms of goals (hello Owen, Morgan, Sean and Jett (yes Jett)). Look for hopefully one or two of these players to break the goose egg and possibly see a change in the fourth line to ensure that the stars aren’t having to deal with fisticuffs themselves.
Players to watch
Travis Konecny
If you were asleep for most of the first four games, you missed probably some of the more intense hockey Travis Konecny has played. Although he’s not tearing the league up with goals or points (two goals, one helper), Konecny looks to be in mid-season form right off the bat, a great way to start off having inked that long-term contract in the offseason. Konecny’s game has been one of the highlights thus far even if he’s a minus four thus far. Between his time on the penalty kill and being a key piece on each, Konecny at times looked like a rover of sorts, getting nearly 18 minutes of ice time in the Oilers game after two periods.
The big question heading into the home opener is perhaps his health. Konecny took a hard, heavy hit courtesy of Chris Tanev and looked doubtful to remain in the game. Hopefully after concussion protocol he was cleared to play but, rightfully so, was beyond pissed at the hit. He then dropped the gloves with Yanni (no not the new age musician) Gourde for a tilt that was pretty even. Fortunately he didn’t get hit hard no hurt his hands or shoulders in the process. Hopefully the hit was a one-off and not the start of being repeatedly nailed.
Rasmus Ristolainen
He hasn’t been tearing thigns up and knocking players on their backside a lot four games in, but you have to give Rasmus Ristolainen some credit. After coming off an injury and surgery that confused the fan base and probably some doctors initially, Ristolainen has been a pleasant surprise in the third pairing. Against the Kraken Ristolainen played 9:45 at 5-on-5 and was even in terms of shot attempts (50.00). Thus far Ristolainen has been doing the simple things more correct than not and looks no worse for wear following the injury, surgery and rehab that it involved.
Whether Ristolainen takes a step back during the season remains to be seen. What is clear though is that this is possibly the best scenario to see Ristolainen playing smarter, high-percentage play hockey that was instilled (beat into him?) the last two seasons courtesy of Brad Shaw and John Tortorella. Hopefully the defenseman is rewarded at some point with a timely goal or a big hit that changes the momentum for the Flyers.
Elias Pettersson
One of Vancouver’s big stars has all of the Canucks media and fan base quite perplexed. Elias Pettersson has a boatload of cash now thanks to a major deal that nets him north of $10 million AAV. He also hasn’t scored a goal in four games. Part of it might be gripping the stick too tight (a la Owen Tippett) and just not baring down and getting that first goal. But while it’s only four games, it’s not the way the player, his coach in Rick Tocchet or anyone in the league expected the Swedish forward to start. He also only has six shots on net which is a bit concerning also. The Flyers did a great job of shutting down Pettersson in the opener and hope to do the same Saturday night.
Ideally Pettersson doesn’t have a big night or break the draught against Philadelphia. But the longer the streak goes, the greater the chance is he breaks out in a big way. If not, then a lot of people might be wondering if the big contract is weighing as much on his mind as it is in his wallet or bank account. Every goal scorer is streaky and with any luck the forward has a quiet, uneventful evening at Wells Fargo Center.
Projected lineups
Philadelphia Flyers
Owen Tippett — Morgan Frost — Matvei Michkov
Joel Farabee — Jett Luchanko — Travis Konecny
Tyson Foerster — Sean Couturier — Bobby Brink
Scott Laughton — Ryan Poehling — Garnet Hathaway
Cam York – Travis Sanheim
Erik Johnson – Jamie Drysdale
Egor Zamula – Rasmus Ristolainen
Sam Ersson
(Ivan Fedotov)
Vancouver Canucks
Jake DeBrusk — J.T. Miller — Brock Boesner
Nils Hoglander — Elias Pettersson — Conor Garland
Danton Heinen — Teddy Blueger — Kiefer Sherwood
Pius Suter — Nils Aman — Daniel Sprong
Quinn Hughes — Filip Hronek
Carson Soucy — Tyler Myers
Erik Brannstrom — Vincent Desharnais
Kevin Lankinen
(Arturs Silovs)
