The Nashville Predators traveled to Philadelphia to take on the Flyers who have one of the best records in the NHL since November 10.
Tonight the Nashville Predators will look to bounce back against the Philadelphia Flyers after previously defeating the Flyers in overtime on December 12.
The Flyers
Philadelphia has earned fifteen points in their last 8 games including earning a point for the overtime loss to the Predators a little over a week ago. That was the only game the Flyers have lost in the month of December so far. Since November 10, the Flyers are 13-3-2. Interestingly, many of their wins in regulation were one goal games. and all but two of their eight December games were one goal games as well. The Flyers can find ways to win without putting up tons of offense.
Of course, that doesn't mean they don't have plenty of offensive weapons. Travis Konecny leads the Flyers in goals with 16 and is on pace to set a career high at his current scoring pace. Owen Tippett and Joel Farabee each have eleven goals on the season, and players like Travis Sanheim and Sean Couturier scored against the Predators in their earlier December game.
The Flyers also have shown off an impressive penalty kill since November 10. They are 89.7% effective and can turn a penalty kill into a quick scoring chance if a power play gets lazy with passing. The Flyers won their Tuesday night game against the New Jersey Devils in overtime and have lost no momentum since their overtime loss against the Predators.
The Predators
Head coach Andrew Brunette thought Tuesday night's game against the Vancouver Canucks might be a "measuring stick" game for the Nashville Predators, but the Predators didn't bring a game worth gauging. The 5-2 loss revealed some weaknesses that Nashville has been able to cover up through their recent 7-3 December stretch. Tonight will be a chance to execute against another quality team and see what this team is made of.
Three Keys to the Game
The Predators will want to generate quality — and quantity —offensive chances tonight, but it will be challenging against a Flyers defense that doesn't give up goal easily. In their last meeting with the Flyers, Nashville learned that a two goal lead is no obstacle for a quick Flyers team to overcome. On December 12 the Preds got goals from Gustav Nyquist and Michael McCarron in regulation. Tommy Novak has been getting back up to game speed, and seeing his line generate a goal or two would be huge for the Preds.
The biggest improvement the Predators may need to make since the Canucks loss is in their mindset. Andrew Brunette felt the team lacked focus and didn't manage the emotions and big moments in their last game. Tonight is an opportunity to flex those mental muscles.
Juuse Saros was pulled early in the third period against the Canucks, and tonight the Predators will need reliable goaltending especially against a team that has put up the fifth most shots so far this season. While the Flyers may not play high scoring games, they can keep a goaltender busy and a defense on its toes. Saros is expected to get the start in net tonight for Nashville, and he defense will need to offer their goalie better support than Saros got Tuesday night.
Watch/Listen
The Predators and Flyers play tonight at 6:00 pm CT at Wells Fargo Center. While it is an away game, the players will have some of their biggest fans — their dads — along for the Annual Dads' Trip to cheer them on.
The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports South, and 103.5 T