Photo Credit: Zack Hill
The Flyers are red-hot, as they are 4-0-1 in their last five outings. They have beaten some good teams, as well, to include the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Colorado Avalanche. The NHL’s third worst team and Flyers rival in the New Jersey Devils stand in the Flyers way tonight.
Yes, the Devils have just 46 points on the season, but what the team has is pride. They still have some guys that know how to score and create havoc with the likes of Wayne Simmonds, Travis Zajac, Kyle Palmieri, and Nikita Gusev. The Flyers just have to play their game, and come out of the gate strong.
Nolan Patrick appears to have given this team a ton of energy, as he hit the ice at Wednesday’s skills practice in Voorhees, New Jersey. Patrick appeared to be a breath of fresh air to the guys in the locker room and really uplifted the players spirits, “It’s a great thing to see Nolan out there. Hell of a player,” Jake Voracek said smiling. “He’s a freaking amazing player,” Alex Lyon said, “He’s got so much talent, it was great to see him out there.”
They know how big of a game, and this last push will be. It’s encouraging to know that the players held a team meeting about 25 minutes after practice ended. Head Coach Alain Vigneault said that the players called the meeting, not him. Some people in the past have criticized the lack of leadership on this team, but the leaders are the ones who called the team meeting.
Joel Farabee is just on fire (7g,11a on the season), and has four goals, and two assists in his last six games played. He almost had a hat trick last Saturday night against the Avalanche. Farabee has beaten the “Rookie Wall” and for his efforts has been moved up to the second line with Sean Couturier and Jake Voracek. This young man is just so talented, and he is playing with so much confidence right now.
Voracek has been one of the Flyers best defensive forwards for the past few months, of course, Couturier is amazing, but Voracek has played well defensively since around the middle of November. Voracek also has three goals, and three assists in his last eight games played. Couturier is elite, and has been playing like a Selke Trophy winner all year. He puts his team on his back, like Couturier did against the Avalanche this past Saturday, where he tallied three assists.
All in all this victory lies with Brian Elliott. The “Moose” should be able to stand strong between the pipes tonight for the orange and black, as he is coming off his 40th career NHL shutout. The Flyers just have to remain focused at the task at hand to not fall victim in a trap game.
Flyers Notes:
Ivan Provorov will play in his 300th career NHL game tonight. He’s an iron man for sure.
Nolan Patrick did practice during the skills practice Wednesday. Regardless, if he’s been medically cleared or not for contact, this was still encouraging. He also wore a slightly tinted visor. It is still unclear whether Patrick has been cleared medically for contact, as Vigneault said after practice, “I do not know if he’s been cleared medically for contact or not.”
Shayne Gostisbehere shall return to the lineup tonight.
Expected Flyers lines and D pairings:
JVR-Giroux-Konecny
Farabee-Couturier-Voracek
Laughton-Hayes-Pitlick
Raffl-Bunnaman-NAK
Provorov-Niskanen
Sanheim-Myers
Ghost-Braun
Elliott
(Lyon)
