Food for Flight: Flyers-Kings, Part Deux

A lot has transpired since the Los Angeles Kings last saw the Flyers. For starters, Philadelphia was 4-3-2 after Brayden Schenn’s overtime goal beat Jonathan Quick on Oct. 28th, sending the one-time Conn Smythe winner into a violent rage. The Flyers were enjoying a run of what would amount to six wins in an eight-game stretch, and Michael Del Zotto was stunning his audience with ridiculously great hair. Today’s sequel of Flyers-Kings, however, has a much different flavor.

Last Meeting

Flyers 4, Kings 3 (OT) – Oct. 28th, 2014.

Here’s what happened in a nutshell: Jakub Voracek scored multiple points (again), while Mike Richards trolled Philadelphia with a goal of his own. The two teams found themselves in overtime, where Brayden Schenn’s game-winner was hotly contested by Jonathan Quick and the Kings. Quick, who argued he was “pushed” into the net by Schenn’s stick (no really, he argued that), went “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan on the crossbar before tossing his stick in the direction of the officials.

There has been no confirmation to date as to whether or not Quick is still mad.

Road Relief?

The Flyers may have an uphill climb today in L.A., but from a historical standpoint, they’re liking their odds. Philadelphia is 41-22-8 all-time in Los Angeles, and have currently won three straight at Staples Center. In fact, the last time the Flyers lost in that building was Jan. 3rd, 2009.

It won’t be as easy as pointing to those numbers today, though. The Kings are 11-3-1 at home, and like the Flyers, struggle away from it (3-4-4).

Familiar Faces

Forgive me if you’ve seen this song and dance before, but the Kings have a few ex-Flyers playing for them these days. I don’t know if you’ve heard about that or not. If not, consider yourself lucky.

It’ll be the third and fourth games respectively against the Flyers for Carter and Richards. The former fan favorites in Philly own a combined two goals and one assist to go with a minus-one rating.

Carter, who has seven goals and 11 assists, has been held scoreless in four straight. Richards, on the other hand, hasn’t seen more than 14:00 of ice time in his last four games, and has been held without a point in three straight.

Justin Williams, however, has 15 points in 22 games against the Flyers. Interesting.

Goalie Matchup

Philadelphia: Steve Mason (4-9-3, 2.78 GAA, .914 SV%)

Los Angeles: Jonathan Quick (11-5-4, 2.15 GAA, .933 SV%)

Steve Mason’s all-time record against the Kings remains at 6-7-0, despite the team’s win back in Oct. It was backup netminder Ray Emery who out-dueled Quick. But as a Flyer, Mason’s only other matchup against the Kings resulted in a 2-0 shutout in Feb. of last season.