Preview
After disastrous outings in Chicago and Columbus, the Flyers (19-10-7) will look to get back on track when they travel to Vancouver to take on the Canucks (20-14-3). On Sunday, the Canucks emerged from a mini-slump with a convincing 3-0 shutout over Ottawa. The Flyers were shut out by the Blue Jackets in their last game.
The Flyers and Canucks have not played each other since last October's memorable 8-2 Flyers romp that was overshadowed late in the game by Jesse Boulerice's headhunting incident with Ryan Kesler. Philly has won its last six road meetings with the Canucks.
Both the Flyers and Canucks come into the game with a host of injuries affecting the lineup. According to the Flyers, Kimmo Timonen is tentatively set to play tonight and Matt Carle is also a possibility. Luca Sbisa suffered a slight groin injury in Columbus but is available. Scott Hartnell has been trying to play through his knee sprain. Daniel Briere and Scottie Upshall remain sidelined.
For Vancouver, superstar goaltender Roberto Luongo is on the shelf with a groin injury. Taylor Pyatt (broken right foot), Sami Salo (broken rib) and Ryan Johnson (foot fracture) are also out of commission. The recently signed Mats Sundin is still not in game shape.
The Canucks top line of playmaking center Henrik Sedin, his goal-scoring twin brother Daniel and veteran Slovak talent Pavol Demitra had a strong game against Ottawa.
Daniel Sedin (who is still looking for his first career goal against the Flyers in what will be his eighth game against the orange and black) tallied a pair of assists against the Sens after going pointless in his previous two games. Henrik, who has one career goal and six assists against the Flyers, tallied his fifth goal of the season and added an assist against Ottawa. Demitra (six goals, 13 points in 16 games against the Flyers) snapped out of an offensive slump with a goal and an assist.
Vancouver only has three players who have tallied double-digit goals -- Daniel Sedin, Demitra and Kyle Wellwood -- but spread the offense around and rely on playing solid team defense. Curtis Sanford registered the shutout in the Canucks' last game.
The Flyers continue to take too many bad penalties, especially early in games. They were getting away with it for awhile, but it's gradually started to catch up with the team. After a lengthy stretch of excellent PK work that also saw the club regularly generate shorthanded chances via anticipation and hard work, the club has slipped to a mediocre 78.8% success rate over the last 11 games.
PROJECTED FLYERS LINEUP (Subject to change)
Gagne - Richards - Knuble
Hartnell - Carter - Lupul
Asham - Metropolit - Giroux
Cote - Powe - Gratton
Timonen - Vaananen
Coburn - Carle/Sbisa
Alberts - Jones
Biron
[Niittymaki]
Contact Bill at
[email protected].
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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