After a much-needed few days off, the Philadelphia Flyers (3-8-4) return to the ice looking for answers as they play host to the Utah Mammoth (9-5-0).
After slumbering to another defeat their last time out against Washington, the Flyers made some quips to the media with captain Sean Couturier believing they were playing soft, defenseman Nick Seeler calling out selfish play/players, and head coach Rick Tocchet agreeing with his veterans and doubling downing on the selfishness.
Those words aren’t thrown out by accident so it will be interesting to see how they respond. At the very least they will be welcoming back some injured players with Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett having returned to practice on Saturday and activated off IR earlier today.
Needing to clear a roster spot, the Flyers opted to send down defenseman Hunter McDonald, keeping both Simon Benoit and David Jiříček away from waivers.
Dan Vladař will be returning in between the pipes after making way for Joseph Woll on Wednesday. Vladař will look to rebound from his last start where he allowed 4 goals on 15 shots in their overtime loss to Columbus. He’s 2-3-2 on the season with a 3.30 GAA and a .888 SV%, but had looked a lot better in his previous 3 games, where he posted a .953 SV$ on 85 shots.
As for the Mammoth, they enter today’s game having alternated between wins and losses over their last 6 games. Nevertheless, they sit in 2nd place in the Central Division, 4th in the Western Conference, and 9th in the league.
They are paced by Clayton Keller and Mikhail Sergachev who both have 4 goals and 16 points in 14 games, Logan Cooley is coming off a hat-trick performance against Pittsburgh on Thursday and has 15 points, while Nick Schmaltz (7 goals and 14 points) and Dylan Guenther (10 points) round out their attack.
Goaltending seems to be one of their lone soft spots with Karel Vejmelka and Sebastian Cossa having struggled in between the pipes. The former will likely get the start and look to improve on his .881 SV% and 3.41 GAA, despite a 6-4-0 record.
While the Mammoth are one of the better offensive units in the league (6th in goals, 4th in shots, and 2nd ranked power play) they are 20th in goals allowed and boast a 68.1% penalty kill that ranks 27th in the league. It’s certainly the easiest way the Flyers could exploit the Mammoth tonight but that would mean the 26th ranked power play in the NHL actually performs.
Philadelphia’s Projected Lines
Trevor Zegras – Christian Dvorak – Travis Konecny
Tyson Foerster – Denver Barkey – Owen Tippett
Porter Martone – Noah Cates – Matvei Michkov
Alex Bump – Sean Couturier – Michael Bunting
Travis Sanheim – Jamie Drysdale
Cam York – Nick Seeler
Simon Benoit – Oliver Bonk
Dan Vladař
(Joseph Woll)
Utah’s Projected Lines
Clayton Keller – Nick Schmaltz – Dylan Guenther
Logan Cooley – Vincent Trocheck – Lawson Crouse
Anders Lee – Barrett Hayton – Kailer Yamamoto
Jack McBain – Kevin Stenlund – Daniil But
Mikhail Sergachev – MacKenzie Weegar
Nate Schmidt – Andrew Peeke
Dmitri Simashev – Artem Duda
Karel Vejmelka
(Sebastian Cossa)
FLYERS ALUMNI VEGAS AND IRELAND TRIPS
Flyers Nation and TrueFan Travel have teamed up for two trips with the Flyers Alumni!
The Las Vegas package (March 10–14) includes tickets to Flyers–Golden Knights on March 11 at T-Mobile Arena, an all-inclusive tailgate, optional flights from Philadelphia, a 4-night downtown hotel stay, an alumni pep rally and Q&A, a Flyers vs. Utah watch party, and a meet and greet.
The Ireland Golf & Tour Experience (July 20–27) includes optional flights from Philadelphia, six nights at The Brehon Killarney and Portmarnock Resort, a welcome reception, a meet and greet and Q&A with Brad Marsh, Patrick Sharp, Joe Watson, Bill Clement, Mark Recchi, and John LeClair, a live Coatesy’s Corner, and optional golf at Old Head, Dooks, Portmarnock, and Druids Glen.
Whether you’re chasing a road game in Vegas or a week on the links in Ireland, these are two chances to travel with Flyers legends!
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