On the eve of Thanksgiving, the Philadelphia Flyers (9-10-3) visit the Nashville Predators at 8:00pm/ET at Bridgestone Arena.
Securing points in consecutive games, the Flyers are clawing up the NHL Metropolitan Division standings. However, blowing a 3-0 lead against any opponent does not help their cause. It happened on Monday versus the Vegas Golden Knights.
“Other than that middle part of the second period [vs. Vegas Golden Knights], we had some unforced turnovers on the boards, there’s just so much good stuff. The offensive movement, our stretching, our surfing; we just got through watching twenty minutes of it. There were some correcting but a lot of it was good. It’s a good blueprint for us that we can fall back on as far as playing on our toes.” – John Tortorella; 11/27/2024
A win versus the Golden Knights would have placed Philadelphia ahead of the New York Islanders in the NHL Metropolitan Division. Tonight, the Flyers can close on the Buffalo Sabres and the Boston Bruins in the Eastern NHL Wildcard hunt with a win and support from the Islanders and the Minnesota Wild.
The Predators (-180) are favorites, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Nashville ranks 29th in goals scored (52), 23rd in goals allowed (70), 13th on the powerplay (21.1%), and 1st on the penalty kill (90.5%). Comparably, Philadelphia ranks 20th in goals scored (61), 26th in goals allowed (76), 24th on the powerplay (16.9%), and 3rd on the penalty kill (85.5%). While the Flyers are underdogs, a road win, thus creating a new point streak, is possible at even-strength.
When: 8:00pm/ET
Where: Bridgestone Arena; Nashville, TN
Broadcast Info: NBC Sports Philadelphia; 93.3 WMMR
Last Game PHI: 11/25; 5-4 OTL; vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Last Game NSH: 11/25; 5-2 L; at New Jersey Devils
Philadelphia Flyers
Alexei Kolosov will start. He earned his first NHL win versus the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime. In 4GS, Kolosov is 1-3-0 with an 87%SV and a 3.5GAA. Ivan Fedotov will assume the backup goaltending role.
Matvei Michkov continued to have a knack for scoring clutch goals. Vegas closed in on Philadelphia in the second period, trailing 3-2, and then Michkov extended the lead again, 4-2. Michkov has goals in consecutive games, but more important is his even-strength game. He did improve since John Tortorella benched him for two games, coaching Michkov off the ice. If he continues to trend upward, Michkov will create a nightmare matchup for the Predators.
Emil Andrae continues to look mighty in his time with the Flyers. He scored his first NHL goal versus the Golden Knights. Tortorella has not discussed whether Andrae will remain with Philadelphia or return to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. However, if you watch Andrae compete in the NHL, he fits in the defensive unit.
“Andrae has been up there, Risto [Ristolainen] has joined in, Sanny’s [Sanheim] leading the way; we’re trying to play in fives and we showed tape today from an overhead. When they’re just breaking out and we’re all on that side of the red line, not skating backward but just surfing and skating forward; trying to check forward. It was so evident in that game [vs. Vegas Golden Knights].” – John Tortorella; 11/27/2024
Healthy scratches include Nicolas Deslauriers, Egor Zamula, and Erik Johnson.
Projected Lineup: Philadelphia Flyers
#86 Joel Farabee – #14 Sean Couturier – #11 Travis Konecny
#74 Owen Tippett – #48 Morgan Frost – #39 Matvei Michkov
#71 Tyson Foerster – #27 Noah Cates – #10 Bobby Brink
#21 Scott Laughton – #25 Ryan Poehling – #19 Garnet Hathaway
#8 Cam York – #6 Travis Sanheim
#36 Emil Andrae – #55 Rasmus Ristolainen
#24 Nick Seeler – #3 Helge Grans
#35 Alexei Kolosov
(#82 Ivan Fedotov)
Projected Lineup: Nashville Predators
#9 Filip Forsberg – #90 Ryan O’Reilly – #14 Gustav Nyquist
#91 Steven Stamkos – #82 Tommy Novak – #81 Jonathan Marchessault
#17 Mark Jankowski – #40 Fedor Svechkov – #77 Luke Evangelista
#68 Zachary L’Heureux – #10 Colton Sissons – #36 Cole Smith
#59 Roman Josi – #45 Alexandre Carrier
#76 Brady Skjei – #37 Nick Blankenburg
#58 Adam Wilsby – #2 Luke Schenn
#74 Juuse Saros
(#41 Scott Wedgewood)
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