UPDATE 11:10 AM
Matt Read and Scott Laughton are healthy scratches. Jordan Weal and R.J. Umberger are back in the lineup for the Flyers. Michal Neuvirth will back up Steve Mason in goal.
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PREVIEW: FLYERS VS. SABRES
In the second game of a three-game homestand, Dave Hakstol's Philadelphia Flyers (23-20-9) play host on Thursday evening to Dan Bylsma's Buffalo Sabres (21-27-6). Game time at the Wells Fargo Center is 7:00 p.m. The game will be televised on CSN Philadelphia
This is the third and final meeting of the season series between the teams. The Flyers tailspin of late October to mid-November started with back-to-back losses to the Sabres, sandwiched around a terrible performance against the New Jersey Devils. On Oct. 27 in Philadelphia, an overtime breakaway goal by Zemgus Girgensons earned a 4-3 win for Buffalo. Three nights later in Buffalo, the Flyers dropped a 3-1 decision that was not as close as the score suggested.
Now the Flyers are looking to break their third three-game winless streak since Christmas. The team has strung together several runs of winning streaks, too, but just as they've gotten within close striking distance of a playoff spot, they've tumbled back down into a hole again by leaving points on the table in winnable games and tossing in the occassional clunker as well (Jan. 19 vs. Toronto, Tuesday night vs. Anaheim).
The Flyers held a brief but fast-paced full practice on Wednesday, which included a few brisk laps around the rink the end. This game marks the start of another three-in-four gauntlet, which will continue with a Saturday home matinee against the Devils and a Sunday evening game against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Sabres also last played on Tuesday.
Flyers Outlook
After starting the season 5-8-3, the Flyers have gone 18-12-6. For the season, the Flyers have posted a 12-8-6 home record.
Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the red-hot Anaheim Ducks was one of the Flyers' worst performances of the last two-plus months. The club failed to compete for pucks and real estate in the first period and let themselves get sidetracked into undisciplined play in the second period. Only in the final 10 minutes of the third period did Philly generate a sustained push and by then it was too late. The Flyers yielded a power play, even strength, penalty shot, and empty net goal in the game; all that was missing was yielded a shorthanded goal.
Wayne Simmonds' scored a third period power play goal for the Flyers; his 19th goal and ninth power play tally of the season. Claude Giroux and Shayne Gostisbehere earned the assists. Gostisbehere extended his point streak to nine games. He will look to tie Mikael Renberg's franchise rookie record 10-game streak (1993-94 season) against the Sabres.
Making his fifth start in eight nights, Steve Mason did not have one of his best games in Tuesday's debacle. Although he was peppered with 15 shots -- many of the tough variety -- in the opening period, the second Anaheim goal was one that should have been a routine save (even through an accidental screen by defenseman Michael Del Zotto). He also did not look good on Chris Stewart's second period penalty shot goal. Both went through the five hole. For the game, Mason finished with 22 saves on 25 shots.
The Flyers are going to have to do a better job at finding ways to win when they do not have two-way center Sean Couturier (IR, lower-body injury). Unfortunately, the team's margin for error is virtually gone. The Flyers are just 2-8-2 without Couturier in the lineup. He will be out the rest of February.
Team captain Giroux leads the Flyers with 16 goals, 29 assists and 45 points in 52 games. He is followed on the Flyers' scoring leader list by Jakub Voracek (eight goals, 34 assists, 42 points), Wayne Simmonds (19 goals, 16 assists, 35 points, 110 penalty minutes), and Brayden Schenn (14 goals, 15 assists, 29 points). Rookie defenseman Gostisbehere has nine goals (five on the power play, three in overtime), 19 assists and 28 points in 34 games. The injured Couturier rounds out the top six with nine goals, 15 assists and 24 points in 40 games.
On Wednesday, Michal Neuvirth skated for the second straight day and put in his first practice since being placed on injured reserve on Feb. 2 with a lower-body injury. Afterwards, he declared that he was feeling better but felt -- as he expected -- that his timing was off and he needed additional practice time. Recent callup Anthony Stolarz was still with the team at practice on Wednesday. However, it was reported that Lehigh Valley Phantoms callup Martin Ouellette was seen packing up his goaltending gear after Wednesay's Phantoms game in Allentown. That could be an indication that Neuvirth is well enough to back up Mason on Thursday.
Mason has appeared in 34 games, posting a 12-14-7 record, 2.70 goals against average, .915 save percentage and three shutouts (four regulation shutouts). Neuvirth has appeared in 20 games, posting an 11-6-2 record, 2.05 GAA, .933 save percentage and three shutouts.
The Flyers did not take line rushes at Wednesday's practice and there are players taking maintenance days at Thursday's morning skate. Lineups will be updated later in the day. It appears that R.J. Umberger will be back in the lineup.
Sabres Outlook
The Sabres are 4-4-2 over their last 10 games and 12-11-3 on the road this season. They are coming off a 7-4 home loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, which saw the Sabres trail 3-0 after the first period and 6-2 after the second.
Sam Reinhart tallied his 15th and 16th goals of the season in a losing cause for the Sabres. Evander Kane, who found enough time out of the penalty box and dressing room to score his 13th goal of the season, was ejected from the game for compiling three separate fighting majors among his 29 minutes worth of penalties. All three fights were with Alec Petrovic.
Buffalo has become a much-improved special teams club this season after spending most of last season at or near the bottom of both the league's power play and penalty killing rankings. Five-on-five play, however, has remained a major trouble spot for the Sabres.
The Sabres had some players missing from practice on Wednesday. Highly touted rookie forward Jack Eichel took a maintenance to rest a bruised leg sustained on a painful blocked shot in the Florida game. He is expected to play onThursday. Girgensons and Johan Larsson were also out. Per the Buffalo News, both are questionable for the game in Philly but Bylsma is optimistic that at least one will be able to go. On Wednesday, the Sabres recalled forward Justin Bailey from the AHL's Rochester Americans.
Two-way forward Ryan O'Reilly leads the Sabres with 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 54 games. He is followed by Eichel (16 goals, 20 assists, 36 points), young defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (eight goals, 25 assists, 33 points), Reinhart (16 goals, eight assists, 24 points), Jamie McGinn (11 goals, 12 assists, 23 points) and Kane (13 goals, eight assists, 21 points in 44 games). Goalie Chad Johnson has posted a 12-14-3 record, 2.44 goals against average, and .918 save percentage in 31 appearances. Now back from injury, Robin Lehner has postedd a 2-3-1 record, 2.65 GAA, and .926 save percentage in eight outings.
Key team stat comparisons (NHL overall ranking)
Non-shootout goals per game: Flyers 2.35 (25th), Sabres 2.30 (28th)
Non-shootout goals against per game: Flyers 2.64 (15th), Sabres 2.70 (21st)
5-on-5 Goals For/Against Ratio: Flyers 75/79, Sabres 76/104
Power play efficiency: Flyers 18.0% (19th), Sabres 21.1% (6th)
Penalty killing efficiency: Flyers 78.6% (23rd), Sabres 81.2% (14th)
Shots per game: Flyers 30.3 (12th), Sabres 29.5 (16th)
Shots against per game: Flyers 32.2 (22nd), Sabres 30.9 (29th)
Faceoff percentage: Flyers 50.0% (T-16th), Sabres 50.0% (T-16th)
Projected lineups (subject to change, will be updated)
Flyers
93 Jakub Voracek - 28 Claude Giroux - 17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl - 52 Nick Cousins - 10 Brayden Schenn
76 Chris VandeVelde - 78 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - 25 Ryan White
20 R.J. Umberger - 19 Jordan Weal - 89 Sam Gagner
15 Michael Del Zotto - 53 Shayne Gostisbehere
55 Nick Schultz - 32 Mark Streit
23 Brandon Manning - 3 Radko Gudas
35 Steve Mason
[30 Michal Neuvirth]
Scratches: Evgeny Medvedev (healthy), Matt Read (healthy), Scott Laughton (healthy),Sean Couturier (IR, lower body).
Sabres
44 Nicolas Deslauriers - 90 Ryan O'Reilly - 88 Jamie McGinn
82 Marcus Foligno - 15 Jack Eichel - 26 Matt Moulson
9 Evander Kane - 23 Sam Reinhart - 12 Brian Gionta
29 Jake McCabe - 43 Dan Catenacci - 17 David Legwand
4 Josh Gorges - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
47 Zach Bogosian - 3 Mark Pysyk
6 Mike Weber - 46 Cody Franson
40 Robin Lehner
[31 Chad Johnson]
Scratches: Carlo Colaiacovo (healthy), Cody Franson (healthy), Justin Bailey (healthy, recalled Wednesday), Zemgus Girgensons (questionable, lower body), Johan Larsson (questionable), Tyler Ennis (IR, suspected concussion), Cody McCormick (IR, blood clots).
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FLYERS ALUMNI PLEDGE $2 MILLION TO ASSIST SNIDER HOCKEY RINK PROJECT
The Flyers Alumni Association has pledged $2 million of support for the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation's rink-building project in the Delaware Valley. The Alumni will help fund the construction of one of the new ice rinks, which will be named the Edward M. Snider/ Flyers Alumni Rinks when completed.
Roughly 90 minutes prior to Thursday's Flyers vs. Sabres game, there will be a symbolic check presentation ceremony from members of the Flyers Alumni Association to Snider Hockey president Scott Tharp, who will be joined at the media room podium area by student athlete participants in Snider Hockey.
Brad Marsh, who jointly serves as the Flyers director of community development as well as the Flyers Alumni Association president will make the presentation on behalf of the Flyers Alumni. He will be joined by Flyers club president and Alumni Association board member Paul Holmgren along with Danny Briere, Bill Clement, Bob “the Hound” Kelly and Dave “the Hammer" Schultz.
For more on the project, which is being funded through various Alumni fundraisers -- including the recent Alumni game in Reading, the return of the Alumni Golf Invitational and the second annual Flyers Alumni Fantasy Hockey Camp --
click here.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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