The Philadelphia Flyers have one more game before the Four Nations tournament break, and it’s tonight against cross-state rival Pittsburgh Penguins. They are currently riding a five-game losing streak, three of which have been shutouts. Can they come out with a win before the break? They desperately need points and it won’t be easy. We’ll find out later tonight.
Samuel Ersson will be in net tonight. It’s about time he starts getting some goal help. He hasn’t gotten any of what feels like forever. On the season, he holds down a record of 15-10-3, a 2.84 goals against average (GAA), and a .894 save percentage. He’ll have to stand on his head again tonight against this Penguins team.
The last game against the Penguins is one that Flyers fans don’t want to remember. It was the “Sidney Crosby game” as he collected a goal and three assists back on Dec. 23. in a 7-3 win. The Flyers are going to have to do whatever they can to cover him all game long. He has been banged up recently, so we’ll see if he enters the lineup tonight.
Speaking of injuries, the Flyers are still very thin themselves. Owen Tippett, Ryan Poehling, and Egor Zamula are still out with injuries. Rasmus Ristolainen seems to be somewhat healthy but will be kept out of the lineup. Therefore, Jacob Gaucher has been recalled for Lehigh Valley and will play.
Flyers fans have been frustrated waiting for the additions they traded for to play. The Flyers made a trade with the Calgary Flames not too long ago. They sent away Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee and acquired Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier. Well, there is some positive news to share. Kuzmenko has all the paperwork straightened out and will be in the lineup tonight. On the other hand, Pelletier’s isn’t and will still be kept out. Can Kuzmenko help this team out on five-on-five and the power play? We can only hope.
Matvei Michkov is coming off a two-goal performance against the Washington Capitals on Thursday. The Flyers are going to need him to keep it up in tonight’s game.
The Flyers take on the Penguins tonight at 7 pm in Philadelphia.
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