It’s the final road game of the regular season for the Flyers, and they’re set to close out the trip with a matchup against the Jets in Winnipeg tonight. This game has major swing potential for their playoff chances, and the Flyers will need to be on their game if they want to keep their hopes alive, and bounce back from a tough outing in Detroit on Thursday, along with it. This game is a big one, as the season is winding down.
Puck drop: 7:00 p.m.
How to watch/listen:
📺: NBCSP
📻: 97.5 The Fanatic
Pregame reading
- We mentioned that poor showing in Detroit already, but if you need a refresher of how that one played out, we have you covered. [BSH]
- Rick Tocchet was particularly displeased with the level of discipline in that loss. [BSH]
- And finally, might we be seeing another prospect signing before the season is out? [BSH]
Pregame watching
By the numbers
Philadelphia Flyers – 40-27-12 (3rd in Metro)
Goals: Owen Tippett (28)
Assists: Trevor Zegras (41)
Points: Travis Konecny (67)
Winnipeg Jets – 35-31-12 (6th in Central)
Goals: Kyle Connor (33)
Assists: Mark Scheifele (65)
Points: Mark Scheifele (99)
Projected lineups
Tyson Foerster — Trevor Zegras — Owen Tippett
Travis Konecny — Christian Dvorak — Porter Martone
Alex Bump — Noah Cates — Matvei Michkov
Denver Barkey — Luke Glendening — Sean Couturier
Travis Sanheim — Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York — Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler — Emil Andrae
Dan Vladar
(Sam Ersson)
Kyle Connor — Mark Scheifele — Alex Iafallo
Cole Perfetti — Adam Lowry — Gabe Vilardi
Cole Koepke — Jonathan Toews — Isak Rosén
Nino Niederreiter — Vladislav Namestnikov — Brad Lambert
Josh Morrissey — Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg — Neal Pionk
Haydn Fleury — Jacob Bryson
Connor Hellebuyck
(Eric Comrie)
Storylines to watch
Who will step up (the redux)?
When we spoke last, ahead of Thursday’s game, one of the big questions heading into that one was of just who would step up as a meaningful producer in this next meaningful game. After all, Trevor Zegras and Tyson Foerster had just put up two goals each in their last game and really delivered standout performances, and the door was open for someone else to take their turn to do that same against Detroit. We wondered who it would be, but the answer turned out to be, well, no one.
The Flyers did still get contributions from all of Dvorak, Martone, and Glendening, but those were more nice bits of pop than really eye-catching complete game efforts, and that’s more what the Flyers are going to need to see from here on out. There’s a great chance in front of them to regroup and make a statement, get things back on track, they just have to seize it.
Can special teams bounce back?
There was a lot to dislike about how things played out in their last game against the Red Wings, but the whole special teams situation was a particular weak point. Between three power play goals allowed, one shorthanded goal allowed, and the power play sucking the momentum out of the Flyers even when they did have the puck, this was an outing to forget. This has all been a work in progress all season, and we’re not expecting any immediate and complete fixes tonight, but they need to be better. It starts with playing a more focused and disciplined game to keep themselves out of trouble in the first place, but they’ll also need to stay diligent in sticking to their structure and dedicated to making more plays.
Standings check
As we stare down these final three games of the regular season, the playoff race is hitting a fever pitch. The Flyers got some help earlier today with the Senators beating the Islanders, and they could get some more help later on if the Canadiens are able to beat the Blue Jackets, but the biggest thing for them right now is to just continue taking care of their own business. They’re still in a playoff spot, and they control their own destiny at the moment.
This game, too, has pretty major implications. Per the folks over at Moneypuck, the Flyers are at a 53.3 percent chance of making the playoffs heading into tonight’s matchup, and if they can pull off a win over the Jets in regulation, those odds will jump up to 75.8 percent. There’s a lot a stake here, and hopefully the Flyers can rise to this occasion.
