MINI-PREVIEW 10:15 AM

The Flyers (23-9-5 overall, 11-3-3 on the road) take to the ice for the third time in four nights for a New Year's Eve showdown with the Anaheim Ducks (19-17-4 overall, 11-6-1 at home). Last night, the Flyers outgunned a Los Angeles Kings team that was playing for the fourth time in five nights, prevailing by a 7-4 count.

Peter Laviolette shook up three of the forward lines last night, and figures to go with the same combinations tonight. Meanwhile, Kimmo Timonen attempted to play through his hip injury. Michael Leighton had a mediocre return to the lineup, but considering the facts that he'd gone a couple weeks since his rehab stint ended and the team in front of him continued to play sloppy defense, all that really matters is that he got the win.

The biggest priority for the Flyers right now is to get their defensive house back in order. With the blueline banged up, the team as a whole needs to raise its level of defensive intensity. The Flyers have also struggled in the faceoff circle again of late, after showing improvement in previous weeks.

The Ducks have played .500 hockey of late (5-4-1 in their last 10 games) but have been a very strong club on home ice this season. Anaheim will be without Ryan Getzlaf (nasal sinus fracture) for tonight's game.

PROJECTED LINEUPS (subject to change)

FLYERS

JVR - Richards - Briere
Hartnell - Giroux - Zherdev
Nodl - Carter - Leino
Carcillo - Betts - Powe

Meszaros - Carle
Coburn - Timonen
Bartulis - O'Donnell

Bobrovsky/Boucher


DUCKS

Beleskey - Ryan - Perry
Blake - Koivu - Selanne
McMillan - Marchant - Lupul
Bonino - Chipchurra - Parros

Visnovsky - Lydman
Fowler - Lilja
Sbisa - Sutton

Hiller
[McElhinney]

Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment

» Lightning Strike Takes Down Jets

» Practice Day, Ersson, Jay Greenberg, A Personal Note

» Flyers Gameday: Game 12 vs. BOS

» Wrap: Brink Lifts Flyers over Blues, 2-1

» Game 11 Preview: Flyers vs. STL