Jakub Voracek returns as Flyers looking to avoid second 10-game losing streak
While it’ll be a homecoming for Jakub Voracek, it’ll be the first time that Cam Atkinson will see his former team as well. The Flyers welcome in the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first time this season.
It’s the first of three matchups, with the other two taking place during a home and home series on April 5th and 7th. It’s been close to two years since these two last faced, their last matchup coming on February 20th, 2020. That was an overtime victory for the Flyers.
Both teams have struggled in recent games. Philadelphia comes in on an 0-6-3 streak, looking to avoid their second 10-game losing streak of the season. They came close to ending that in their last game against the Islanders. It could be considered one of their best efforts in quite some time. But Oliver Wahlstrom scored the only goal of a nine-round shootout to give New York the extra point. Philadelphia has yet to score a goal in 16 shootout attempts.
For Columbus, they come in 3-7-0 in their last 10 games. They’ll be coming in with an edge as they were on the wrong end of a 9-2 blowout against a red-hot Florida Panthers team. It was 4-0 at the end of the first and 6-0 at the end of the second. By the time the Blue Jackets scored their first goal in the third, it was already well out of hand.
Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 13-18-8 (34 points, 6th in Metro)
After their loss to the Islanders, Mike Yeo said it’s hard to talk about progress when the team is still losing games. The overall process has gotten better as puck protection has been a key aspect the team has been trying to improve. Especially against the Islanders, they don’t seem themselves getting clearly outplayed by their opponents.
However, the mistakes that have hurt them time and time again are still popping up. They still find themselves getting hemmed in at time, unable to hold onto a lead. Not taking advantage of opportunities and finding ways to overpass in certain situations has also been evident as well.
A loss is a loss no matter how you spin it. And there have been a lot of them lately. Everything the Flyers improved upon during their 5-1-2 stretch, has flown out the window during this nine-game losing streak. It’s hard to build upon habits when you have this kind of inconsistent play.
Atkinson will get to play against the team that drafted him back in 2008. He spent a decade in a Blue Jackets uniform and had clearly become a fan favorite. While holding the same respect for them as they do him, Atkinson is on the other side of things now. He’s been exactly what the Flyers were looking for in the trade. He leads the team in goals (15) and has four points in his last five games.
Projected Lineup
Farabee – Giroux – Atkinson
Lindblom – Laughton – Konecny
van Riemsdyk – Frost – Mayhew
Willman – Bunnaman – MacEwen
Provorov – Braun
York – Sanheim
Yandle – Ristolainen
Hart
Columbus Blue Jackets
Record: 17-18-1 (35 points, 5th in Metro)
Columbus is in a similar situation as the Flyers and will be just as hungry to get the two points as Philadelphia. Before their blowout loss to the Panthers, they in turn blew the doors off of Carolina in the previous game.
So it was a tale of two different Blue Jackets teams. They will certainly welcome back Voracek who exited COVID protocol late last night and will return to the lineup. He leads the team in assists (24) and is second in points (25 points). He does only have one goal on the season, though, so they are looking to get a bit more offense out of him. Playing against his former team could bring some fire out of him.
The Blue Jackets do have three players who have reached double digit goals thus far. Boone Jenner leads the way with 15 goals and has been known to turn it up a little against Philadelphia. He has nine goals in 27 career games against the Flyers. If he’s playing well, Columbus usually wins.
Projected Lineup
Nyquist – Jenner – Bjorkstrand
Laine – Texier – Voracek
Domi – Roslovic – Bemstrom
Robinson – Kuraly – Chinakhov
Werenski – Peeke
Bayreuther – Bean
Kukan – Christiansen
Merzlikins
When, Where, and How to Watch
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Wells Fargo Center
TV Broadcast: NBCSP
Radio Broadcast: 97.5 the Fanatic
Live Stream: Fubo TV
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