The Philadelphia Flyers (11-4-3), looking for continued success from center Sean Couturier and a potentially strong return from winger Travis Konecny, will meet the Pittsburgh Penguins (11-8-1) on Tuesday in the opening matchup of a 3 game, baseball-style series at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm, and the game will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network and locally on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
The acclaimed “Keystone Clash” Flyers-Penguins rivalry will carry great implications in the Eastern Division standings, as the respective opponents look to pull ahead of a 5 team pack in competition for 4 playoff spots.
Where They Stand
The Flyers have finally begun to gain rhythm after an atypical start to the season. They dominated the Buffalo Sabres in consecutive 3-0 victories over the weekend in their 2nd and 3rd straight regulation wins, thanks to strong goaltending and the reemergence of Sean Couturier as a top offensive threat. Per Jason Myrtetus, the weekend sweep marked the first time in franchise history that the Flyers recorded 2 shutouts in consecutive games both played on the road.
Back to Back road shutouts. The first time the Flyers have ever blanked the opponent on back to back road games. Win 700 for AV. Total Flyers domination and the Penguins are up next Tuesday night.
— Jason Myrtetus (@jasonmyrt) February 28, 2021
The Penguins come in after splitting consecutive 2 game series against the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders, respectively.
Pittsburgh is on the fringe of playoff positioning despite inconsistent play from goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith. Both Pittsburgh netminders currently own save percentages south of .900, and Penguins fans can’t help but notice their former goalie Marc-Andre Fleury had an excellent season for the Vegas Golden Knights at age 36.
Storyline to Watch- Role Reversal in the Rivalry
Flyers fans were forced to endure domination at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins not too long ago. Pittsburgh won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2015-16 and 2016-17 and eliminated the Flyers in a poorly contested first-round playoff series in 2017-18.
However, the Penguins have reached a crossroad. General manager Jim Rutherford resigned suddenly in January, reportedly following disagreements within the organization about the future of Pittsburgh’s aging star players (namely Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang).
Former Flyers goaltender/general manager Ron Hextall was hired as Rutherford’s replacement. Meanwhile, the youth movement he implemented in Philadelphia now looks poised to compete for a Stanley Cup.
Flyers fans should relish in the ironic twist of events. While Hextall is a capable talent evaluator and a good hire for the Penguins, the stars seem to be aligning for a changing of the guard in the NHL’s most bitter rivalry.
The Penguins will allow 15% fan occupancy in their home arena for the first time this season on Tuesday, creating the perfect opportunity for the Flyers to legitimize this role reversal in front of a fanbase that has shown particular disdain for the Orange and Black in the past.
Players to Watch
Flyers winger Travis Konecny will return to the lineup after being removed from the COVID protocol list Sunday, and the Flyers hope Konecny can come out with the same type of jump in his skates as his teammates who have recently returned from COVID-related absences. Claude Giroux began the trend Wednesday with a dominant offensive effort that yielded 3 assists. Scott Laughton’s goal on Saturday, assisted by linemates Jake Voracek and Oskar Lindblom, followed suit in the initial return to the lineup for all 3 respective forwards.
Konecny got off to a fast start against the Penguins in the first 2 games of the season, earning 5 of his 8 total points. He scored a hat trick at the Wells Fargo Center against Pittsburgh on January 15th in his best effort of the season, but he has failed to gain the same offensive momentum that earned him an All-Star selection last season. TK has missed 5 games due to COVID protocol in addition to a healthy scratch on January 30th.
The Penguins will be at a major disadvantage, as news came this morning that star center Sidney Crosby has been placed on the COVID-19 list. With Crosby out, the Flyers will have a better opportunity to focus on Evgeni Malkin.
Malkin has been known as one of the most skilled players in the NHL throughout his career, but inconsistent play has limited him to 12 points this season. Sean Couturier will likely be tasked with shutting Malkin down given Crosby’s absence on the top line. This matchup has favored the Flyers in years past, and Malkin has shown noticeable frustration at several points in the history of this rivalry. Forcing Malkin, Pittsburgh’s current team leader in penalty minutes, out of his game and preventing him from finding an offensive touch will be key for the Flyers.
The Flyers struggling penalty kill will also catch a break with Crosby’s absence. The PK allowed Crosby to score 2 power play goals in the opening series in Philadelphia, but they should now be able to contain a Pittsburgh unit converting at just 13% on the season.
Projected Flyers Line-up
JVR-Couturier-Farabee
G-Hayes-Patrick
Lindblom-Laughton-Voracek
Raffl-Bunny-Konecny
Hart
Nic Aubé-Kubel has been scratched from tonight’s game.
The Flyers currently sit as favorites at -122 on the moneyline, and the over/under is set at 6 (odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook).
Remember to check out the Broad Street Buzz Twitter feed (@BroadStreetBuzz) during the game for live updates and Flyers chatter.