Hopefully no slapshot empty net goals tonight...
The Flyers have a quick stop in Toronto before their highly-anticipated Stadium Series in New Jersey against the Devils, where they'll be looking to extend their win streak to five games. It will be the Flyers' first game with their official new captain Sean Couturier leading the charge, and will be a true test of whether or not they can play well and win while handling a jam-packed schedule.
Happy Homecoming!
The Flyers touched down in Ontario yesterday, bringing four of their players back to home soil—Morgan Frost (Aurora), Owen Tippett (Peterborough), Jamie Drysdale (Toronto), and Scott Laughton (Oakville) all hail from the area.
It would be too easy to make a joke about John Tortorella scratching all four of these players because they're in home territory, but it will be interesting to see how these players do at their old stomping grounds in front of friends and family.
No Philly Flu Here!
Flyers fans had a glimmer of hope when it was reported that John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander all had to sit out at some point this week due to illness, but Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that all three are expected to return against the Flyers.
The Leafs will be without Morgan Rielly, who has been suspended for five games after cross-checking the Ottawa Senators' Ridley Greig in the head after Greig scored a slap-shot goal on a Leafs' empty net.
Their playing might not be in tip-top shape after battling with being sick, but these are three of the Leafs most dangerous players and could absolutely still cause plenty of problems for the Flyers.
No Sleep 'Til East Rutherford
It's been a packed week for the Flyers, and they haven't had many chances to stop and take a breath. While a game against the Leafs is always a big one in the schedule, the Stadium Series game against the Devils will be at the forefront of everyone's minds. The Flyers have the opportunity to take on a suddenly-hot Devils team with the confidence of a five-game win streak, but it will be crucial for them to not overwork themselves and riddle the squad with even more injuries, exhaustion, illness, etc.
Flyers Projected Lines:
Forwards:
Tippett - Couturier - Konecny
Farabee - Frost - Atkinson
Hathaway - Poehling - Cates
Defense:
York - Sanheim
Staal - Drysdale
Seeler - Walker
Zamula
Starting Goalie:
Ersson
Maple Leafs' Projected Lines:
Forwards:
Knies - Matthews - Marner
Bertuzzi - Tavares - Nylander
Gregor - Domi - Robertson
Holmberg - Kampf - Reaves
Defense:
Brodie - Liljegren
Benoit - McCabe
Lagesson - Giordano
Starting Goalie:
Samsonov