GAME 43 PREVIEW: FLYERS @ DEVILS
With both teams exiting a bye week, Dave Hakstol's Philadelphia Flyers (19-15-6) return to action on Saturday night as they take on John Hynes' New Jersey Devils (22-11-8) at the Prudential Center in Newark. Game time is 7:00 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on NBCSNP.
This is the first of four meetings this season between the Metro Division rivals, who will now see each other frequently over the next month. The teams will rematch on Jan. 20 in Philadelphia, Feb. 1 and Feb. 13 back in Newark.
Last season, despite the Devils' struggles against most of the NHL, the Flyers kept up an unwanted tradition of losing to New Jersey with regularity. The Flyers went 1-4-0 against the Devils last season, including 4-0 and 6-2 road losses.
The lone Philadelphia victory, a 4-0 shutout win at the Wells Fargo Center on April 1, was overshadowed by the frightening sight of Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth suddenly collapsing in a heap and being taken off the ice on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance. Thankfully, Neuvirth was OK after what was believed to be a fainting spell on a night when he was playing through an illness.
This season, New Jersey is a much improved club. The team currently sits in automatic playoff position as the third-place team in the Metro Division. The Flyers are presently below the wildcard cutoff but could pull into lower wildcard position at the end of the night if they beat the Devils and the Pittsburgh Penguins lose in regulation to the Detroit Red Wings.
FLYERS OUTLOOK
The Flyers have had five nights off since topping the Buffalo Sabres, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center. The club has gone 7-2-0 in its last nine home games. Of the Flyers' remaining 40 games, 22 are on the road and 18 are at home. Philly's 8-7-4 road record this season is better than last year's pace, but the club will need additional improvement over the rest of the season if it is to reach the postseason.
Other
keys to second-half success for Philly: greater consistency of secondary scoring, significant improvement in penalty killing, quicker starts in first periods, continued improvement in closing out games and, of course, getting the saves they need from their goaltenders.
After sending Tyrell Goulbourne back to the Phantoms this week to put in some practices while the NHL team was on bye week, the Flyers recalled the energy-line rookie on Friday for a 4 p.m. practice in Voorhees. Top-pairing defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (illness) took a maintenance day on Friday, with recently oft-scratched rookie Travis Sanheim skating in his spot as a substitute.
Flyers captain Claude Giroux, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Friday after being named to his fifth NHL All-Star Game the previous day, is currently in a five-way tie for second in the Art Ross Trophy race. Through 42 games, Giroux has posted 52 points (14 goals, 38 assists).
Jakub Voracek (eight goals, 43 assists, 51 points) is tied for seventh in the Art Ross Trophy race. He leads the NHL in assists.
Having already attained new full-season career highs with 23 goals and 42 points, Selke Trophy candidate Sean Couturier is also sixth in the Rocket Richard Trophy race. Last Saturday, he became the first Flyer to have 20 or more goals at the midpoint of the season since Danny Briere did it in 2010-11.
Gostisbehere is tied for fourth among NHL defenseman with 32 points this season (nine goals, 23 assists) despite missing three games with a concussion. Defense partner Ivan Provorov, who has eight goals and 20 points to date, leads the Flyers in ice with an average 24:44 per game.
Veteran goaltender Brian Elliott (16-10-7, 2.74 GAA, .910 SV%) started 16 straight games through the penultimate game before the bye week. Oft-injured but athletically gifted veteran Neuvirth (3-5-1, 2.48 GAA, .921 SV%, 1 SO) was in net for the home win over Buffalo.
Entering Saturday's game, the Flyers have scored 123 goals (19th in the NHL) and yielded 119 (11th). At five-on-five, Philly has scored 75 goals (23rd in the NHL) and yielded 64 (2nd fewest).
On the power play, the Flyers rank tied for 10th at 20.8 percent (31-for-149) with six shorthanded goals yielded. On the penalty kill, the Flyers rank 28th (96-for-128, 75.0 percent). Scott Laughton's shorthanded goal in the home opener against Washington still stands as the lone shorthander for the Flyers to date this season.
DEVILS OUTLOOK
The bye week came at a good time for the Devils. It was an opportunity for the team, which is winless in its last five games (Dec. 29 through Jan. 7), to hit the reset button. The Devils were 0-2-3 in that stretch.
Nevertheless, the Devils enter Saturday's game just one point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for 2nd place in the Metro Division. New Jersey holds a whopping five games in hand and is just one ROW (20 to 19) behind the Blue Jackets in the primary tiebreaker category.
For the Devils, who overall were 5-2-3 in the 10 games leading up to their bye week, winning means not having to look in the rear-view mirror. However, the club doesn't have much margin for error in the tightly packed Metro Division.
New Jersey is three points ahead of the New York Rangers, four ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes, five ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and six ahead of the Flyers and New York Islanders. A bad week for the Devils and a hot week for one or more of their pursuers could invert the race.
On Sunday, the visiting Devils were unable to protect a lead against the Islanders, and fell via shootout, 5-4. The Isles ended a five-game losing streak while New Jersey settled for one point in the standings.
Named to the NHL All-Star Game, Taylor Hall has racked up 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 49 games played. He's followed by a trio of rookies: 19-year-old Jesper Bratt (10 goals, 16 assists, 26 points), 2017 first-overall draft pick Nico Hischier (eight goals, 18 assists, 26 points) and 23-year-old defenseman Will Butcher (two goals, 23 assists, 25 points).
Brian Gibbons is second on the Devils with 12 goals (three have come while the Devils were shorthanded) among his 22 points. Veteran Brian Boyle, a longtime Flyers nemesis and the likely Masterton Trophy winner this season for his strong play even while undergoing treatment for chronic myelogenous leukemia, has 11 goals in 31 games. Miles Wood (11 goals) is the only other Devils player with double-digit goals to date.
Veteran goalie Cory Schneider (17-8-6, 2.67 GAA, .918 SV%, 1 SO) has been a workhorse for the Devils. His backup, Keith Kinkaid (5-3-2, 3.31 GAA, .897 SV%) has made nine starts and two relief appearances to date.
To date, the Devils have scored 127 goals (13th in the NHL) and yielded 121 (tied for 12th). At five-on-five, the team has tallied 84 times (tied for 12th) and given up 81 (tied for 17th).
On the power play, New Jersey ranks 7th in the NHL at 21.4 percent efficiency (27-for-123) with three opposing shorthanded goals. The Devils rank eighth on the penalty kill at 83.3 percent success (120-for-144) and are tied for 2nd in the NHL with seven shorthanded goals, including Gibbons' three.
PROJECTED LINEUPS (Subject to change, will be updated)
FLYERS
28 Claude Giroux - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
12 Michael Raffl - 51 Valtteri Filppula - 93 Jakub Voracek
40 Jordan Weal - 19 Nolan Patrick - 17 Wayne Simmonds
15 Jori Lehterä - 21 Scott Laughton - 56 Tyrell Goulbourne
9 Ivan Provorov - 8 Robert Hägg
23 Brandon Manning - 47 Andrew MacDonald
6 Travis Sanheim - 3 Radko Gudas
37 Brian Elliott
[30 Michal Neuvirth]
Scratches: 20 Taylor Leier (healthy), 22 Dale Weise (healthy), 53 Shayne Gostisbehere (illness).
DEVILS
9 Taylor Hall - 13 Nico Hischier - 63 Jesper Bratt
90 Marcus Johansson - 19 Travis Zajac - 21 Kyle Palmieri
44 Miles Wood - 37 Pavel Zacha - 18 Drew Stafford
40 Blake Coleman - 11 Brian Boyle - 39 Brian Gibbons
6 Andy Greene - 16 Steve Santini
2 John Moore - 45 Sami Vantanen
8 Will Butcher - 12 Ben Lovejoy
35 Cory Schneider
[1 Keith Kincaid]
Scratches:10 Jimmy Hayes (healthy), 23 Stefan Noesen (healthy), 28 Damon Severson (healthy), 25 Mirco Mueller (IR, broken clavicle).
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PHANTOMS EMBARRASSED BY SPRINGFIELD, PLAY HERSHEY ON SATURDAY
Coming off a five-night break in their schedule, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (21-12-5) churned out a clunker on Friday night as got blown out on home ice by the last place but improving Springfield Thunderbirds (16-21-2).
The Phantoms carried the play in the first period, but were unable to capitalize on multiple odd-man rushes or a breakaway. There was also an early tendency toward defensive zone sloppiness and carelessness with the puck that only worsened as the game progressed.
Lehigh Valley erased one-goal deficits in the first and second periods but had trouble killing penalties and then utterly imploded over the latter half of the middle frame. The Phantoms level of competitiveness dropped off a cliff once Springfield quickly re-took the lead at 3-2. Trailing 5-2 at the second intermission, the team generated very little pushback in a meek third period.
"I think we took this team too lightly, to be honest with you," said a glowering Phil Varone, who scored one of the Phantoms' two goals. "Everyone in this room needs to look in the mirror. I know I will."
Collectively, the Phantoms were outworked on the walls, were poor in coverage especially between and below the dots, made poor shot-selection choices and low-percentage passes (and put open passes into each other's skates or out of reach) and had trouble getting shots through as they were limited to 19 on Samuel Montembeault's net.
Alex Lyon (22 saves on 28 shots) wasn't the problem but also wasn't a standout. The second-year pro was victimized by two wicked deflections and possible uncalled incidental contact interference but also did not track pucks particularly well. He made a couple of tough saves but, overall, was strictly average on a night where the team needed his "A" game to erase more of the breakdowns.
The Phantoms had ample opportunities to take control of the game before things fell apart but repeatedly missed the net on good opportunities or else gave Montembault pretty routine saves on sequences that initially started out with promise. Mired in a massive rut in the goal-scoring department after his eye-popping start to the season, Danick Martel alone had two great looks at the net and couldn't finish either.
There were a few bright spots for the Phantoms, however.
The defense pairing of rookie Philippe Myers and Mark Alt individually had a decent game, particularly Myers. (Note: Myers will be the subject of my next prospect profile, either here on HockeyBuzz or on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com). Myers also assisted on the Phantoms' first goal.
Second-year pro Nicolas Aube-Kubel had three good scoring chances in the game, and finished off one of them to tie the game at 1-1 late in the first period. Attacking up the left side off the rush, Aube-Kubel fired a nicely placed wrist shot from the circle over Montembault's glove and into the long side of the net for his 10th tally of the season. In the third period, Aube-Kubel won a puck in the corner, cut in front of the net and was denied by what was arguably Montembeault's best save of the game.
Rookie left winger Oskar Lindblom didn't have a dominant game, but played his usual strong two-way style, won the majority of the puck battles and lurked around the net for loose pucks (but there weren't many to claim). He also generated an assist on the Phantoms' second goal. However, Lindblom's best play was made behind the net with his feet. Engaged with a defender in a puck battle, Lindblom fended him off and then made a soccer-style pass with his skate to linemate Varone.
On the Phantoms' second goal, Varone won a left circle faceoff and Lindblom passed over to Chris Conner as Varone went to the net. Conner didn't try to do too much with his shot other than make sure he got it toward the net quickly. Varone claimed the rebound and swept it home for his 11th goal of the season.
That was about it for Phantoms' highlights from Friday. Springfield winger Ryan Horvat, who came into the game with three assists and five points on the season, doubled his season assist total with primary helpers on each of the final three Thunderbirds goals. Five different Springfield players scored, as Thunderbirds agitator Chase Balisy tallied twice and Jayce Hawyluk (one goal, one assist) also enjoyed a multi-point game.
Among the many Phantoms who had forgettable nights, rookie defenseman Mark Friedman had a rough game on both sides of the puck. He capped off his night with a careless high-sticking double minor late in the third period.
The Phantoms don't have much time to dwell on what happened in the first game of their weekend three-in-three gauntlet. On Saturday, they host the arch-rival Hershey Bears and then take on the Bears in Hershey on Sunday. One week from now, the same two teams will play in the 2018 Outdoor Classic at Hersheypark Stadium.
Lehigh Valley could have Samuel Morin back in the lineup on Saturday for the first time in a month. He has been dealing with a recurring nagging injury. Morin was reportedly close to returning before Friday's tilt but was held out for at least the one additional game.
The Phantoms did get Cole Bardreau and veteran Matt Read back in the lineup on Friday. The lineup against Springfield was as follows:
28 Oskar Lindblom - 26 Phil Varone - 10 Greg Carey
18 Danick Martel - 21 Mike Vecchione -16 Nicolas Aube-Kubel
22 Chris Conner - 24 Matt Read - 13 Colin McDonald
19 Radel Fazleev - 11 Steven Swavely - 9 Cole Bardreau
5 Philippe Myers - 2 Mark Alt
43 T.J. Brennan - 20 Max Lamarche
44 Reece Willcox - 37 Mark Friedman
34 Alex Lyon
[35 Dustin Tokarski]
Friday's Scratches -- Injury: 3 Samuel Morin, 14 Corban Knight, 15 Mikhail Vorobyev; Veteran Maximum: 8 Will O'Neil;l Healthy: 36 Alex Kruskelnyski.
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CHL, NCAA PROSPECT UPDATES
* OHL: On Friday night, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds continued their magical season and the recently created top line trio of Flyers' 2017 first-round pick Morgan Frost with Tampa Bay Lightning 2016 second round picks Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh continued to live up to their post-World Junior Championship hype as the best line in any of the CHL circuits.
The Greyhounds skated to a surgical 5-2 home win over the Owen Sound Attack on Friday night. Earning first-star honors, Frost assisted on two Katchouk goals (one at even strength, one on the power play) and then added a power play goal of his own. Frost also went 11-for-18 on faceoffs and was plus-one at even strength.
The first Frost assist, which gave the Hounds a 1-0 lead at 7:38 was a tic-tac-toe connection with his linemates. Passing out from behind the net to Raddysh in left circle, the puck was then rotated to an open Katchouk in the slot and ripped into the cage.
Frost's next assist, which opened a 4-0 lead early in the third period, was a gorgeous Giroux-like pass from the left wall that cut through the Owen Sound penalty box like a scalpel and arrived flat for Katchouk to one-time into the net with an equally impressive blast from the right circle.
Frost's power play goal, at 18:57 of the third period, was scored off the rush. He took a drop pass high in the offensive zone, skated in two strides and wired a shot past Mack Guzda.
Frost now has a 19-game point streak (14 goals, 27 assists, 41 points). Taking it back over the span of his last 28 games (21g, 34a, 55pts), he's averaged 1.96 points per game. His updated season totals and OHL rankings: 41 GP, 25 G (5th), 44 A (1st), 69 PTS (1st), +48 (1st).
The Greyhounds now have a 28-game point streak (27-0-1) and a four-game winning streak since their 23-game winning streak was snapped in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Mississauga Steelheads on Jan. 4. Sault Ste. Marie (36-3-3 overall) will get a chance at revenge on Saturday night. The Steelheads (18-22-1) will pay a visit to the Essar Centre.
Flyers 2017 fourth-round pick Maksim Sushko did not record a point in Friday's tilt in the Soo. He was minus-one and did not record a shot on goal. For the OHL season, the Belarusian standout at the World Junior Championships has 31 points (19 goals, 12 assists) and a plus-six rating in 32 games. Owen Sound (16-17-7) is on the road on Sunday to take on the Sudbury Wolves (11-25-6).
*NCAA: Flyers 2016 second-round pick Wade Allison has not played much hockey of late, with his Western Michigan Broncos had played only once (Dec. 28) since Dec. 9. The team's schedule is starting to rev up again, starting with Friday night's 7-5 win at St. Cloud State.
Allison notched a pair of assists and one shot on goal. He took slashing and goalie interference penalties. For the season, the sophomore power forward has 15 goals, 15 assists and 30 points along with 29 points and a plus-seven rating. His 1.43 points-per-game average is tied for 5th across the NCAA. Western Michigan and St. Cloud State rematch on Saturday.
* NCAA: Flyers 2016 sixth-round pick Tanner Laczynski's Ohio State Buckeyes started a back-to-back road set with a 5-2 loss on Friday night. The sophomore right winger posted a pair of assists and eight shots on goal in a losing cause. For the season, he has 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 23 games. His 1.35 points-per-game-average is 11th nationally.
* NCAA: The Michigan Wolverines knocked off host Minnesota on Friday, 5-3, in the first of back-to-back games. Flyers 2015 sixth-round pick Cooper Marody scored for Michigan, while fellow Flyers prospect Brendan Warren (4th and 5th goals of the season) added even-strength and empty-net goals. Junior center Marody has 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists) in the season and is tied with Allison for 5th nationally with a 1.43 points per game. Junior left winger Warren, acquired by the Flyers in the deal that sent Nick Cousins to Arizona, has nine points on the season.
* OHL: Flyers 2017 fourth-round pick Matthew Strome opened the scoring as the Hamilton Bulldogs built a 2-1 lead through two periods and then pulled away for a 5-1 triumph over the host London Knights on Friday night.
Strome, who had three shots on goal, saw a nine-game point streak snapped on Jan. 5, but has scored goals in back-to-back games since then. Dating back to mid-November, Strome has been on a goal-scoring tear after a slow start to the season. He is now up to 25 goals (tied with Frost for 5th in the OHL) and 44 points (tied for 27th) in 39 games.
Leading the East Division, Hamilton (26-9-6) hosts the Flint Firebirds (12-24-3) on Saturday.
* OHL: Flyers 2017 second-round pick Isaac Ratcliffe notched a pair of third-period goals, including the shorthanded game-winner, to lead the Guelph Storm to a 4-2 road win over the Kingston Frontenacs on Friday night. Ratcliffe scored at even strength to tie the game at 2-2 midway through the final period and then put his team ahead to stay with a shorthanded marker at 14:22. Taking first-star honors for the game, Ratcliffe had six shots on goal.
For the season, the 6-foot-6 but mobile and hard-shooting Ratcliffe has posted 21 goals and 35 points in 41 games.
Ratcliffe and the Storm (20-17-4) are back in action on Sunday, visiting the Ottawa 67s (17-19-4).
* WHL: Returning to action for the first time since backstopping Team Canada to the gold medal at the World Junior Championships, Carter Hart will be in goal for the Everett Silvertips on Saturday night when they visit the Spokane Chiefs. For the WHL season, Hart is 13-3-1 with a 1.32 GAA, .961 save percentage and five shutouts.
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ROSTER ADDITIONS FOR OUTDOOR CLASSIC ALUMNI GAME
The Flyers Alumni Team and the Hershey Bears Alumni have added multiple players to their rosters as late additions for Friday's Outdoor Classic Alumni Game at Hersheypark Stadium. Most notably, Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque will be a special guest player for the Hershey side, while the Flyers Alumni have added the likes of Jimmy Watson, Al Hill and Darren Jensen. The Alumni Game will be broadcast live on Flyers Radio 24/7 on Friday (7 p.m. ET) with Bob Rotruck on play-by-play and myself on commentary.
In days to come, we will also have more information on the upcoming Flyers Alumni vs. Bruins Alumni game at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, ME, on Feb. 17. Eric Lindros, Danny Briere, Rick Middleton and Ken "the Rat" Linseman (skating on the Bruins Alumni side) are among the confirmed players to date.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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