The Philadelphia Flyers are coming off Tuesday's emotional win over the Anaheim Ducks riding high, and they're 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. As of today, they sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with a 22-12-7 record and have two games in hand over the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes ahead of them, who have 52 and 55 points, respectively. The top spot in the Metro is within striking distance.
Tonight, the Flyers welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are slowly but surely working their way out of the basement of the Eastern Conference. They've been dealing with some key injuries throughout the season, and are currently without William Nylander, Chris Tanev, and Dakota Joshua. Auston Matthews missed a game last week, but has been on a tear ever since: he has six goals and seven points over the last three games.
The Leafs have underwhelmed this year, and they are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and have a 20-15-7 record for the season. That's good for 47 points in the standings, keeping them right in the mushy middle of a crowded Eastern Conference. While they have underperformed, the Leafs are not a team to take lightly, as they have the fire power and talent to burn the Flyers between Matthews, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies.
Three Storylines
The Flyers' mediocre power play
The good news: the Flyers scored a power play goal against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday! The bad news: it was the only goal of their eight (8!) opportunities on the man advantage. Maybe that one goal will be enough to spark something.
The absence of Jamie Drysdale & Bobby Brink; the return of Matvei Michkov
Drysdale and Brink both left Tuesday's matchup early with injuries, and neither is in the lineup for tonight. The good news is that Michkov is expected to return, barring any aggravation to the foot injury that kept him out earlier this week.
Welcome back, Scott Laughton
While the Flyers did host the Leafs earlier this season, Laughton was not a part of the Leafs' lineup as he was injured at the time. Tonight, though, will be his first game back in Philadelphia after last spring's trade deadline move that sent him to Toronto. Expect an exceptional tribute video and lengthy ovation from the home crowd.