Somehow, someway the Philadelphia Flyers have won four straight games. They are in their best stretch of the season since the post-Christmas break. They are clicking on all cylinders, the team is rallying around each other for some spectacular wins, and there is some sense of optimism. Too bad their season is virtually over.
The Flyers are taking this win streak to Ottawa. The Senators had been making a late push to make the playoffs but recent injuries have taken a mighty, mighty toll on this team. Can the Flyers take advantage of this and get another victory? The Senators and Flyers have split the season series so far with the visiting team winning both matchups.
Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 29-32-12 (72 points, 7th in Metro)
The Flyers are on a roll. They are closing in on having a .500 record. That would be nice for John Tortorella in his first season. They have already done better, record wise, than last season.
Morgan Frost is on a roll lately as well. He’s scored three goals in his last four, including two against Montreal. Joel Farabee has gone scoreless in his last two games after scoring goals in four straight.
Despite the problems they’ve had this year, the Flyers youthful corps has grown up a lot. If they can build on their success and maturation they’ve had this season, they might not be too bad in another year or two.
As Carter Hart is out with an injury, Felix Sandstrom will get his second straight start in the net.
Flyers Projected Lineup
Joel Farabee — Morgan Frost — Owen Tippett
Brendan Lemieux — Noah Cates — Wade Allison
James van Riemsdyk — Kevin Hayes — Kieffer Bellows
Nicolas Deslauriers — Scott Laughton — Tanner Laczynski
Ivan Provorov — Cam York
Travis Sanheim — Rasmus Ristolainen
Nick Seeler — Tony DeAngelo
Felix Sandstrom
Ottawa Senators
Record: 36-33-5 (77 points, 6th in Atlantic)
This team is so close to making the playoffs. The Sens are tied for 10th place in the Eastern Conference with Buffalo (The Flyers next opponent). They are five points away from Pittsburgh. A late season surge could do it….
…However, a string of injuries recently have devastated Ottawa. Thomas Chabot, Jakob Chychrun, Parker Kelly, and Ridley Grieg are all out. Goalies Cam Talbot and Anton Forsberg are banged up. Talbot will get the start, but is not playing as well as he is when fully healthy.
A few weeks ago, Kevin Legowski asked the question, “Could Claude Giroux score his 1000th career point against the Flyers?”. It’s looking unlikely. However, if he did, it would be a career night as he is six points away. Barring injury, he should reach it before the end of the season.
Senators Projected Lineup
Brady Tkachuk — Tim Stutzle — Claude Giroux
Alex DeBrincat — Shane Pinto — Drake Batherson
Derick Brassard — Dylan Gambrell — Mathieu Joseph
Patrick Brown — Mark Kastelic — Austin Watson
Jake Sanderson — Artem Zub
Erik Brannstrom — Travis Hamonic
Tyler Kleven — Nick Holden
Cam Talbot
Where, When, and How to Watch/Listen
Time: 7 PM
Where: Canadian Tire Centre
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 FM
Live Stream: FuboTV
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