Flyers vs Stars, Game 45: Notes, Lineups, and How to Watch
After returning from a successful three-game road trip, the Flyers are back home for their second matchup with the Dallas Stars.
The two teams met early in the season, where Dallas took an overtime 5-4 victory. It was a back-and-forth game on Oct. 21. The Flyers erased a 4-2 deficit in the third period to tie the game with two goals in less than a minute. But Joe Pavelski scored the overtime goal just over two minutes into the extra period. Travis Konecny had two goals in the loss.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers continue to sit pretty in the division standings. They are second in the Metro, four points behind the division-leading Rangers. Things are starting to spread out as, aside from the Hurricanes, who are a point behind Philadelphia, the next closest team is six points behind the Flyers. They are firmly in a playoff position at this time. If they continue to play the way they have the rest of the way, playoffs should be in their future.
Philadelphia is well-rested after playing five games in eight nights. They had the last two nights off before a morning skate on Thursday morning. They were also without Sean Couturier and Jamie Drysdale for the latter two games. Both of those players will return to the lineup against the Stars. It will be another 11/7 games as Nicolas Deslauriers, Bobby Brink, and Marc Staal will be out of the lineup. Fatigue shouldn't be a factor, but playing this way is not sustainable. The Flyers need to figure things out, especially on the defensive end.
Travis Konecny, who has had an MVP-level season once more, has gone mildly cold lately. He has no goals in his last five games, though he has four assists during that time. He scored four goals in the prior three games. This is his second longest drought this season, following his seven-game drought between Dec. 12-28. The Flyers will need other players to step up at this time, but there doesn't seem to be a worry that Konecny will stay in this drought.
Flyers Projected Lineup
Joel Farabee - Sean Couturier - Travis Konecny
Owen Tippett - Morgan Frost - Cam Atkinson
Tyson Foerster - Scott Laughton - Garnet Hathaway
Noah Cates - Ryan Poehling
Travis Sanheim - Jamie Drysdale
Cam York - Sean Walker
Nick Seeler - Rasmus Ristolainen
Egor Zamula
Sam Ersson
Dallas Stars
The Stars coming in having won two in a row, and four of their last five. They outscored their last two opponents 7-2, giving up a single goal to the Blackhawks and Kings. In their four wins, they have only given up more than one goal in a single game. That was a 7-2 win over Minnesota. Scoring goals on them has not come easy lately.
Roope Hintz is tied for the team lead in goals (18) with Joe Pavelski but is second in points (40). He has three goals in his last five games. The team leader in points is Jason Robertson, who has 45 points. Robertson is on pace for the second-lowest goal total of his career, as he has 15 goals through 43 games. That comes a season after scoring a career-high 46. He is in the midst of a six-game point streak, where he has three goals and eight points.
It's been a relatively even split in net for the Stars. Jake Oettinger is expect to get the net against the Flyers. He has been in net for the Stars last two games, as this will be his fourth straight start since returning from injury. He has a 2.87 GAA and a .905 SV%.
Stars Projected Lineup
Jason Robertson - Roope Hintz - Wyatt Johnston
Mason Marchment - Matt Duchene - Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn - Sam Steel - Joe Pavelski
Craig Smith - Radek Faksa - Evgenii Dadonov
Ryan Suter - Nils Lundqkvist
Esa Lindell - Jani Hakanpaa
Thomas Harley - Joel Hanley
Jake Oettinger
When, Where, and How to Watch/Listen
Time: 7:00 PM
Where: Wells Fargo Center
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Live Stream: FuboTV
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