Game 20: Flyers @ Devils
Alain Vigneault's Philadelphia Flyers (8-7-4) are in Newark on Sunday to take on Lindy Ruff's New Jersey Devils (8-6-4). Game time at the Prudential Center is 7:00 p.m. ET (NBCSP, 97.5 The Fanatic). For an in-depth preview of Sunday's game, see
Five Things on the Flyers' official website.
The Flyers are winless in their last five games (0-3-2). They have been outscored by a 20-9 margin in that span. On Friday, the Flyers took leads of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 but the Carolina Hurricanes caught them and pulled away to a 6-3 decision (see
Postgame 5: Canes Storm Flyers on Black Friday).
New Jersey is 4-3-3 over its last 10 games but the team has lost five of its last six games (1-3-2). On Black Friday in Nashville, the Devils sustained a 4-2 loss to the Predators. Nashville led for most of the game, building a 3-0 lead by 6:45 of the third period.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Flyers
28 Claude Giroux - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
86 Joel Farabee - 48 Morgan Frost - 89 Cam Atkinson
23 Oskar Lindblom - 21 Scott Laughton - 25 James van Riemsdyk
71 Max Willman - 82 Connor Bunnaman 17 Zack MacEwen
9 Ivan Provorov - 61 Justin Braun
6 Travis Sanheim - 70 Rasmus Ristolainen
24 Nick Seeler - 24 Nick Seeler
35 Martin Jones
[79 Carter Hart]
Devils
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Phantoms Update: Depleted Team's Struggles Continue
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms sustained a 4-1 home loss on Saturday to the Bridgeport Islanders. Ian Laperriere's team is winless in its last seven games (0-4-3). A Cal O'Reilly power play goal (3rd) midway through the first period stood as the lone Lehigh Valley goal. Trailing 2-1 in the third period, the Phantoms made a heavy push but were unable to find an equalizer before Bridgeport added a pair of empty-net goals in the final 1:40.
One night earlier, the brief return of Max Willman (8th goal of the season) provided the only Phantoms goal in a 4-1 road loss to the Syracuse Crunch. Felix Sandström stepped up in net to keep the game tied at 1-1 heading into the third period but Syracuse pulled away with two even strength goals and an empty netter. On the empty net goal, Willman was kicked out of the game after being assessed a slashing major for a chop at goal-scorer Daniel Walcott's legs as he scored.
The Phantoms next two games -- scheduled for Sunday on the road in Hershey and Wednesday at home against the Bears -- have been postponed by the AHL due to a number of Hershey Bears players being in COVID-19 protocol.
Phantoms defenseman Cam York is also currently unavailable due to being in COVID protocol. With Morgan Frost, Willman and Connor Bunnaman on NHL recall to the Flyers and a host of Phantoms players unavailable due to injury -- including Tyson Foerster, German Rubtsov, Tanner Laczysnki, Wade Allison, Linus Sandin, defenseman Mason Millman and rookie goalie Samuel Ersson -- the team has had to dress numerous ECHL-caliber players in their places.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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