Flyers Dancing with the Devils at the Rock
By Nick Butler
The Flyers and Devils are set for their second matchup of a four game series. Philadelphia won the first game in the shootout after Claude Giroux put the team in his back and scored back to back goals in 22 seconds in the final minutes of the game. The Flyers did not look very impressive against the Devils but a win would again do wonders for this team.
With the Bruins losing their second straight game, Flyers were able to push within 9 points of the Bruins. Boston plays the Penguins tonight. If Philadelphia can win and Bruins lose once more, things can get interesting once again. If Boston somehow collapses and the Rangers fall off the wagon too, the Flyers have a chance, a slight one, but none the less, a chance.
Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 22-19-7 (51 points)
Brian Elliott is getting the start once again and he looked really good against the Devils. He gave up three goals on 32 shots. The goals were all one timers and were bad coverages by the defense. Elliot stood on his head and looked good in the shootout and gave the Flyers a chance to win.
We will see Egor Zamula make his NHL debut tonight. He will be the fifth Flyer to make their debut. He will be along side Travis Sanheim. In 17 games with the Phantoms this year, he has five assists and a plus/minus of 2.
This quote from Claude Giroux should tell you a lot about Zamula.
"“I remember telling Provy how I thought he was going to be a player. He’s got a lot of poise with the puck, he’s very smart, good stick. He just does everything right”."
Tanner Laczynski will have season ending surgery. Carter Hart is making good progress and is now considered day to day. Morgan Frost took part in an on ice workout with Shayne Gostisbehere. Frost is not expected to play the rest of the season with that shoulder surgery he had in late January. Ghost should return by next week with that MCL sprain.
The Flyers need to be better in their own end tonight. Turnovers and breakdowns have led to way too many goals this season. Hopefully with Zamula coming into the lineup tonight, he is able to help with their defensive woes. It is just really painful to see this team have to comeback most nights then not.
Claude Giroux – Sean Couturier – Jakub Voracek
Joel Farabee – Kevin Hayes – Travis Konecny
James van Riemsdyk – Scott Laughton – Wade Allison
Oskar Lindblom – Jackson Cates – Nolan Patrick
Ivan Provorov – Justin Braun
Egor Zamula – Travis Sanheim
Robert Hagg – Phil Myers
Brian Elliot
Alex Lyon
New Jersey Devils
Record: 14-27-7 (35 points)
The Devils will be coming hard against the Flyers as they have nothing to play for but pride at this point. The Devils have a lot of young talent. They still have a little ways to go to become a contender once again, but when this team finally puts it all together, they will be dangerous.
Pavel Zacha is one of the best players for the Devils this year. He has 11 goals and 15 assists and scored in the last matchup. I expect him to help pave the way forward again tonight.
Yegor Sharangovich has been a phenom for this team this year. Drafted in the 5th round in the 2018 draft, he has stepped up for this team. He has 11 goals and 12 assists on this season in 46 games. He was all over the ice last game and you expect him to continue pulling out his energy.
Janne Kuokkanen – Jack Huges – Yegor Sharangovich
Pavel Zacha – Nico Hischier – Jesper Bratt
Andreas Johnsson – Jesper Boqvist – Nicholas Merkley
Miles Wood – Michael McLeod – Nathan Bastian
Damon Severson – Ryan Murray
Connor Carrick – Will Butcher
Matt Tennyson – Colton White
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
Where, When and How To Watch
Where: Prudential Center
When: 7 PM
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia, MSG+
Radio Broadcast: 97.5 The Fanatic
Live Stream: Fubo TV
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