The Philadelphia Flyers shocked everyone with their 2-0 shutdown performance versus the Winnipeg Jets, one of the best in the league and first place in the Central Division.
Sam Ersson and Cam Atkinson were the stars of that game. Atkinson broke a 26-game goalless streak. It was a big deal for the team that likely ignited energy to get through the back end of a back-to-back they otherwise would not have had. He also gave us a great quote, and was part of a meme that even he approved of.
The team is vibing, and will need every last one as they go up against the King of Vibes, a true hockey guys’ guy, Kevin Hayes and the St. Louis Blues.
Although most of his gripes have been with media, tonight still may be emotional for both teams. Hayes recently had to deal with trash fans making horrible comments regarding the passing of his brother. Hayes is also a beloved hockey man, and likely has the room of St. Louis fully behind him. However, like I said, I do not think there are any harsh feelings between players. If anything, the Flyers players felt horrible for what he had to endure over the last week. Regardless, this game may have some more intensity, or at least, media will try to create that perception, especially in their first meeting after his trade to St. Louis.
Word on St. Louis, and how to beat them
The Blues are 1-1-1 in their last three games, defeating the New York Rangers and losing to the Buffalo Sabres (5-1) and Boston Bruins (4-3). Over their last 3 games, their special teams have had some large improvements and minor regression. In this time, their powerplay has gone 4/11, or 36%, which is dramatically up from their season average of 13.3% (30th in the NHL) conversion rate on their power play.
The penalty kill has regressed a little, allowing at least 1 goal per game. Still, their success rate is at 70%, which is slightly down from their season average 78% (22nd in the NHL). Their power play is currently over-performing, while their penalty kill units have staggered a bit more than usual.
The Blues do not have great special teams units, but considering their current hot streak on the power play, the Flyers should be savvy in not taking dumb penalties, even if their penalty kill unit is the best in the NHL at an 86.8% success rate. They struggle just as much as the Flyers in goals for (STL at 2.83 GF/GP while PHI is at 2.84 GF/GP). The difference is the Blues allow more goals than the Flyers, giving up 3.17 (19th in NHL) compared to the Flyers’ 2.70 (7th in NHL).
Flyers on a run
The Flyers are 3-0-0 in their last 3 games and their special teams have just about everything to do with it. Despite averaging a measly 12.4% conversion rate on the power play, the Flyers have scored on 42.8% of their opportunities and scored a power play goal in each game during this streak.
Their penalty killing unit has been even better, operating flawless and not allowing a goal while shorthanded in 3 straight games. Samuel Ersson earned two of the three victories, including a shutout against the Winnipeg Jets, the best team in the Central.
Noah Cates returns, Marc Staal sits
Noah Cates will be back for Philadelphia centering the 4th line after missing 22 games with a broken foot. John Tortorella decided to sit Marc Staal for a 12F/6D rotation. It’ll be interesting to see how the lineup at forward shakes out once Sean Couturier returns from his undisclosed minor injury.
PHI Record: 23-14-6, 52 pts, 3rd in Metropolitan
STL Record: 21-18-2, 44 pts, 5th in Central
When: 8:00pm ET
Where: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
Broadcast Info: NBC Sports Philadelphia, 97.5 The Fanatic
Last Game PHI: 1/13/24, 2-0 W at Winnipeg
Last Game STL: 1/13/24, 4-3 OTL vs. Boston
PHI Goalie: Carter Hart (11-8-3, .911 SV%, 2.70 GAA, 1 SO)
STL Goalie: Joel Hofer (7-7-0, .908 SV%, 2.87 GAA, 1 SO)
PHI Projected Lineup
#74 Owen Tippett – #48 Morgan Frost – #11 Travis Konecny
#71 Tyson Foerster – #21 Scott Laughton – #19 Garnet Hathaway
#86 Joel Farabee – #25 Ryan Poehling – #89 Cam Atkinson
#44 Nicolas Deslauriers – #27 Noah Cates – #10 Bobby Brink
#8 Cam York – #6 Travis Sanheim
#24 Nick Seeler – #26 Sean Walker
#5 Egor Zamula – #55 Rasmus Ristolainen
#79 Carter Hart
#33 Samuel Ersson
Scratches: #18 Marc Staal
Injuries: #9 Jamie Drysdale, #14 Sean Couturier
STL Projected Lineup
#89 Pavel Buchnevich – #18 Robert Thomas – #25 Jordan Kyrou
#63 Jake Neighbours – #10 Brayden Schenn – #42 Kasperi Kapanen
#20 Brandon Saad – #12 Kevin Hayes – #13 Alexey Toropchenko
#79 Sammy Blais – #26 Nathan Walker – #70 Oskar Sundqvist
#4 Nick Leddy – #55 Colton Parayko
#47 Torey Krug – #72 Justin Faulk
#48 Scott Perunovich – #51 Matthew Kessel
#30 Joel Hofer
#50 Jordan Binnington
Scratches: #6 Marco Scandella
Injuries: none
News and Notes
– The Flyers are 92-46-17-3 against the Blues all-time and have outscored them 248-227 on the road.
– Sean Couturier (undisclosed “minor” injury) and Jamie Drysdale (illness) will continue to sit out for tonight’s game.
– Both teams’ underwhelming power plays have been on fire over the last three games, it’ll be fascinating if the Blues will be able to keep that up against the best penalty kill unit in the league who have not allowed a power play goal in three straight games.
– It turns out it was no fluke that Cam Atkinson was one of the active Flyers to lead in points against Winnipeg with 9 points. Those points now extend to 11 after Atkinson scored the only two goals of the game in Winnipeg for a 2-0 final.
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