Wrap: Flyers Fall to Nashville, 4-2
The Philadelphia Flyers lost to the Nashville Predators, 4-2, at the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday evening. A dominant third period for Nashville was the difference on the game. The loss ended the Flyers point streak at nine games and marked the second time this season that Philly lost a game where they scored first.
Philip Tomasino scored two goals for Nashville, including the game-winner with 4:01 remaining in the third period. Cole Smith (shorthanded) and Gustav Nyquist (empty net) also scored for Nashville. Filip Forsberg and Colton Sissons each had two assists. For the Flyers, Morgan Frost and Sean Couturier scored for the Flyers.
Juuse Saros earned the win in goal for Nashville with 30 saves on 32 shots. Samuel Ersson (27 saves on 30 shots) took the loss.
For a period-by-period synopsis of Thursday's game, analysis, stats and highlights, see the Postgame 5 on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com:
Click here.
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Game 33 Preview: Flyers @ Red Wings
In their final game before the NHL's Christmas break, the Philadelphia Flyers (18-11-3) will be on the road to take on the Detroit Red Wings (15-13-4). Game time at Little Caesars Arena is 7:00 p.m. ET.
Thursday's home loss to the Predators was the Flyers' first regulation loss in December (7-1-1). The Red Wings come into Thursday's game having lost four games in a row in regulation, including last Saturday's 1-0 loss in Philly. Cam York tallied the lone goal in that game.
Since the Flyers last played the Red Wings, Dylan Larkin has returned from injury to the Detroit lineup. David Perron has finished serving a six-game NHL suspension and is eligible to return against Philadelphia. Goalie Ville Husso was injured in Monday's game, as was placed on IR. Ex-Flyers netminder Alex Lyon, who had to leave Saturday's game against his old club, is out until after the break. On Friday, look for James Reimer to get the start for Detroit, backed up by Michael Hutchinson.
With the Flyers playing for the third time in four nights and in second half of a back-to-back, it's unlikely that Sam Ersson (who recorded a 32-save shutout of the Red Wings this past Saturday) will be available to start a seventh straight game. Whether it's Carter Hart (illness, backed up Ersson against Nashville) or Cal Petersen in net on Friday depends on how Hart is feeling over the day and early evening.
The Flyers will not hold a morning skate in Detroit. Lines below will be updated prior to game time. For an in-depth preview, see "Five Things" on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com on Friday morning.
Potential Lineups (will be updated)
FLYERS
71 Tyson Foerster - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
86 Joel Farabee - 25 Ryan Poehling - 89 Cam Atkinson
74 Owen Tippett - 48 Morgan Frost - 10 Bobby Brink
44 Nic Deslauriers - 21 Scott Laughton - 19 Garnet Hathaway
8 Cam York - 6 Travis Sanheim
24 Nick Seeler - 26 Sean Walker
5 Egor Zamula or 18 Marc Staal - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
79 Carter Hart or 40 Cal Petersen
[33 Samuel Ersson
RED WINGS
14 Robby Fabbri - 71 Dylan Larkin - 23 Lucas Raymond
93 Alex DeBrincat - 18 Andrew Copp - 88 Patrick Kane
90 Joe Veleno - 37 J.T. Compher - 27 Michael Rasmussen
36 Christian Fischer - 21 Austin Czarnik - 17 Daniel Sprong
57 David Perron (eligible to return from suspension)
96 Jake Walman - 53 Moritz Seider
8 Ben Chiarot - 46 Jeff Petry
41 Shayne Gostisbehere - 2 Olli Määttä
47 James Reimer
[45 Michael Hutchinson]
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Phantoms Beat Charlotte in OT, 3-2
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms battled back from deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 to defeat the Charlotte Checkers, 3-2, at Bojangles Coliseum on Thursday evening. Tanner Laczynski (7th goal of the season) netted the game-winner 57 seconds into sudden death. Olle Lycksell and Emil Andrae assisted on the winning goal.
In regulation, rookie Samu Tuomaala notched a goal and an assist for Ian Laperriere's squad. The Finn later helped set up fellow rookie J.R. Avon for a power play goal in the final minute of the second period.
The Phantoms trailed 1-0 on a Patrick Khodorenko (6th goal of the season) goal at 6:12 of the first period. Tuomaala (8th) tied the game at 19:29 of the first period, assisted by Victor Mete. However, a mere 11 seconds after play resumed, Riley Bezeau (3rd) restored the lead for the Checkers. The 2-1 edge for Charlotte stood until the final half-minute of the second period as Avon (7th) forged a 2-2 tie on the power play. Laczynski and Tuomaala earned the apples. The third period was scoreless.
Felix Sandström earned the win in net for the Phantoms, stopping 21 of 23 shots. Spencer Knight (32 saves on 35 shots) took the overtime loss for Charlotte. The Phantoms went 1-for-2 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.
In the thid period, power winger Wade Allison and defenseman Louie Belpedio were each assessed 10-minute misconduct penalties for arguing with the officials. The latter was incensed when the Phantoms had to play shorthanded late in regulation. Cooper Marody got the only penalty out of a scrum at 17:52.
The Phantoms (12-11-4) and Checkers (13-10-3) will play each other again in Charlotte on Friday evening. Game time is 7:00 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed on AHL TV (subscription required). The Phantoms' starting iineup in Thursday's game follows below:
28 Olle Lycksell - 9 Tanner Laczynski - 19 Wade Allison
16 J.R. Avon - 91 Elliot Desnoyers - 27 Samu Tuomaala
17 Garrett Wilson - 24 Adam Brooks - 20 Cooper Marody
13 Brendan Furry - 56 Jacob Gaucher - 14 Zayde Wisdom
6 Emil Andrae - 7 Louie Belpedio
98 Victor Mete - 12 Ronnie Attard
37 Adam Ginning - 5 Ethan Samson
32 Felix Sandström
[31 Parker Gahagen]
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