The Game: 7:00 p.m. EST on NBCSports Philadelphia, ESPN+/Hulu, and 93.3 WMMR
Sunday’s loss to the Florida Panthers may have been disappointing, but we can chalk that one up to a) the game being cursed and b) Felix Sandstrom. However, there’s good news for tonight’s game: Sam Ersson gets the start against the New York Rangers tonight, and it’s the last game of the Flyers’ gauntlet against playoff-bound Eastern Conference teams. The bad news though is that, try as they might, the Flyers haven’t been unable to topple the Rangers this season. Maybe they’re due?
The Rangers lead the Metropolitan Division with 98 points–one more than the Carolina Hurricanes, and New York has a game in hand–which has them right in the thick of the President’s Trophy race, a race that’s shaping up to be uncharacteristically competitive this year. They’re 7-3-0 in their last 10, to the Flyers’ 4-4-2 record, so Philly will (as always) have a tough game. New York’s feeling the late season injury bug though, as Jacob Trouba, Matt Rempe, and Ryan Lindgren are all out–and maybe Erik Gustafsson, too. Rempe’s absence likely means no Nic Deslauriers for the Flyers: their last bout has fight of the year potential, but fights don’t win standings points, and it’s probably best Rempe’s out right now anyway; the kid’s not gonna last long in the NHL if he keeps playing like this.
It may be cliche to always talk about how big these games are for the Flyers, but as long as the Washington Capitals refuse to lose, these points are paramount. Fortunately for the Flyers, Nick Seeler and Jamie Drysdale practiced with the team this morning and, while they may not play tonight, their return would provide a major boost to a struggling blue line. Travis Sanheim missed morning skate once more, presumably for maintenance (that shot he blocked on Sunday looked brutal), and running him and Cam York ragged on the top pair could be a recipe for disaster if either gets hurt with only Marc Staal to take their place.
Players to Watch
Owen Tippett
Tippett was riding a six-game point streak into Sunday’s matchup, where unfortunately that streak came to an end. In those six games, Tippett had three goals and nine points–great to see after he went through a bit of a slump. He’s on the de facto top line with Morgan Frost and Travis Konecny right now, and those guys are going to have to produce if the Flyers want to nab a few more points in the standings. Watch for Tippett to rip one past Shesterkin today.
Morgan Frost
Just as Tippett’s six-game point streak came to an end against Florida, so too did Morgan Frost’s. In that streak, he scored three goals and eight points–that’s pretty solid output. Watch for him to get back on the scoresheet and maybe give some life to the ever-stagnant power play.
Artemi Panarin
It may be a bit late to mount a Hart Trophy publicity campaign, but Panarin’s play this season should warrant quite a few votes. The Breadman’s sitting at 43 goals and 99 points in 71 games this season, and sitting here writing this it almost feels a guarantee he breaks 100 this evening for the first time in his career. It’s an important year for Panarin–not because of contracts, but because he’s underwhelmed in the postseason several years in a row: carrying the momentum he’s had this year into a playoff run will be important for his legacy with the Rangers. The Flyers, meanwhile, will have to do their best to smother his offense.
Projected Lineups
Philadelphia Flyers
Owen Tippett – Morgan Frost – Travis Konecny
Tyson Foerster – Ryan Poehling -Garnet Hathaway
Joel Farabee – Scott Laughton – Owen Tippett
Noah Cates – Sean Couturier – Olle Lycksell
Cam York – Travis Sanheim
Adam Ginning – Ronnie Attard
Egor Zamula – Erik Johnson
Sam Ersson
(Felix Sandstrom)
New York Rangers
Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Jack Roslovic
Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trochek – Alexis Lafreniere
Jonny Brodzinski – Alex Wennberg – Kaapo Kakko
Will Cuylle – Barclay Goodrow – Jimmy Vesey
K’Andre Miller – Braden Schneider
Erik Gustafsson* – Adam Fox
Zac Jones – Chad Ruhwedel
Igor Shesterkin
(Jonathan Quick)
*Gametime decision
Gameday Tunes
No reason for this one, it’s just been playing on loop in my head for the past few days.
Stats via Hockey Reference
