Flyers Welcome Canadiens to Philadelphia for Bottom-Five Matchup

Dec 16, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Cam Atkinson (89) plays the puck in front of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau (30) and defenseman Jeff Petry (26) during the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Cam Atkinson (89) plays the puck in front of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau (30) and defenseman Jeff Petry (26) during the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Flyers have had an incredibly streaky 2021-22 NHL season. Full of injuries, disappointment, loads of losing, and trade rumors, the Flyers are either becoming desperate for a change, or they are getting a little too comfortable with where they sit in the standings.

Though Philadelphia has mostly gone on losing streaks, like the two-game skid they have found themselves in, they will have a solid chance to win today when they host the Montreal Canadiens at the Wells Fargo Center.

Philadelphia Flyers

Record: 18-30-10 (46 pts, 8th in Metro) 

Despite losing four out of last six games, the Flyers have shown their loyal fans some positive things to take away from some of these matchups. Like re-signing Rasmus Ristolainen to a new five-year deal, which includes a pay cut, and putting up a quality fight against the Carolina Hurricnanes.

But fans have also been supplied with plenty of negativity. Philadelphia has lost all of their recent matchups against teams who are contending for the playoffs, with the exception of their 2-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, which was largely carried by Carter Hart’s 47-save night.

They have also lost one of their most consistent players in Scott Laughton who is now out indefinitely after suffering a concussion in last Thursday’s 6-3 loss to the Florida Panthers. Laughton took a clean hip check from Florida’s Petteri Lindbohm and was awkwardly sent head-first into the boards as a result of the hard impact from the hit. When Laughton hit the boards, he appeared to be knocked unconscious and play was stopped so he could be helped off of the ice to a standing ovation and receive medical attention.

Lindbohm seemed concerned for Laughton, but he had to drop his gloves and fight Travis Konecny before getting the chance to see the full effect of the check he had thrown. Philadelphia losing Laughton with the kind-of season he has been having is a major loss to the club.

“He’s a heart and soul player,” said goaltender Carter Hart after Thursday’s loss to the Panthers.

Projected Lineup

Frost – Giroux – Konecny 

Farabee – Brassard – Atkinson 

Mayhew – Hayes – van Riemsdyk

Lindblom – Brown – MacEwen 

Provorov – Braun 

Sanheim – Ristolainen 

Yandle – York 


Hart

Montreal Canadiens

Record: 15-35-8 (38 pts, 8th in Atlantic)

The Montreal Canadiens are one of the few teams in the NHL that are actually performing worse than the Flyers, and have been doing so since the beginning of the season. Though they have just hired hockey legend Martin St. Louis, who was born and raised not too far away from Montreal, in attempts to spark something new into their club, the Canadiens are still the worst team in the league.

They are certainly performing more consistently already under the new St. Louis era in Montreal, with an emphasis on their offense being awakened and playing much better than they have all season. Don’t expect Montreal to be an easy two points tonight, especially when Cole Caufield is on the ice, as he is finally beginning to heat up and play the way fans have been begging him to.

Projected Lineup

Caufield- Suzuki – Anderson 

Hoffman – Pitlick – Gallagher 

Byron – Evans – Pezzetta 

Lehkonen – Poehling – Armia 

Kulak – Petry

Romanov – Chiarot 

Schueneman – Wideman 


Primeau 

When, Where & How to Watch

Time: 7:00 pm EST

Where: Wells Fargo Center

TV Broadcast: NBCSP

Radio Broadcast: 97.5 FM

Live Stream: Fubo TV

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