The Philadelphia Flyers take on the San Jose Sharks tonight, and that match-up provides a perfect opportunity to rebound from their last game.
The Philadelphia Flyers take on the San Jose Sharks tonight, and that match-up provides a perfect opportunity to rebound from their last game.
Sam Ersson was pulled from the game against the Tampa Bay Lighting after giving up four goals on 15 shots in the first period. Ersson has had a terrific season, but his numbers have dropped. His season save % is under .900 and sits at .898.
The Sharks offense is the second worst in the league, as they have only scored 139 goals. Ersson also faced San Jose earlier in the season and only gave up two goals. San Jose also traded Tomas Hertl to the Vegas Golden Knights. Despite already being out of the lineup due to injury, the Sharks offense took a hit.
Their captain, Logan Couture, is out for the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury and only appeared in six games. Mikael Granlund has been their most productive forward with 40 points on the season. They also moved Anthony Duclair to the Lightning, and he scored his first goal with his new team against the Flyers.
With all these factors, the Sharks are the perfect team for the Flyers as a whole to redeem themselves. After an embarrassing shutout, they will absolutely benefit from being thrown a bit of a softball right after one of their most disappointing outings all season.
The offense will most likely be going up against Magnus Chrona, who has started the last five games due to Mackenzie Blackwood being injured. Chrona will undoubtedly be tired, and won't be able to keep up with how relentless, creative, and tricky the Flyers' offense can be.
Travis Konecny has returned to the lineup, and as the resident Flyers agitator and top scorer with 27 goals, he's been a problem for many opposition defenses this season.
Morgan Frost has also been acting as an excellent playmaker, enjoying a particularly good run since January. With 22 assists on the season, a key member of the power play, and adept passing abilities, Frost will be able to show off and create, create, create against the Sharks.
Even if the Flyers don't score a high number of goals, the depleted defense and Ersson shouldn't be too troubled by the Sharks' offense. They're 31st in goals with 139, while also being 32nd in goals against with 250. Their -111 goal differential is the worst in the league.
While there are no easy games in the league, the Flyers have as good an opportunity as ever to bounce back and give themselves some more distance from the rest of the Metro Division.
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