The Philadelphia Flyers (16-17-4) can even out their record before 2025. At the Shark Tank, the Flyers could sweep the season series against the San Jose Sharks.
Philadelphia ranks 22nd in the NHL Standings. They are 12-5-0 against the bottom half of the NHL. It is critical to win when favored. Tonight, the Flyers (-175) are favorites against the Sharks.
Ending 2024 on a high note is a requirement because the Vegas Golden Knights, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Dallas Stars represent the first four games of 2025.
On November 11th, Philadelphia surrendered a 3-0 lead to San Jose, requiring shootout theatrics from Travis Konecny and Matvei Michkov. The Sharks are not to be taken lightly. They are underdogs, but not a bad bet to place. Head-to-head, they rank ahead of the Flyers in powerplay, penalty kill, and goals allowed.
Tonight documents the second time this season Michkov and Macklin Celebrini go head-to-head. Michkov (12G, 17A) leads all rookies in scoring, with Celebrini trailing him (12G, 15A). The storylines run through the SAP Center, including potential leverage en route to the Calder Memorial Trophy.
When: 8:00pm/ET; 12/31/2024
Where: SAP Center; San Jose, CA
Broadcast Info: NBC Sports Philadelphia; Flyers Radio 24/7
Last Game PHI: 12/29/24; 5-4 L; at Los Angeles Kings
Last Game SJS: 12/28/24; 3-1 L; vs. Calgary Flames
Philadelphia Flyers
Sam Ersson (8-6-2, 3.14GAA, 88%SV) is the starter for Philadelphia. The goaltending tandem of Ersson and Alexei Kolosov is struggling. Defensively, they are not receiving much help, but the goaltenders need to make a save to help themselves.
Ersson had a quality start against the Anaheim Ducks. He helped the Flyers to a 3-1 win, saving 32/33 shots on goal (97%SV). That performance was the only time Ersson had a save percentage greater than 90% in his last five starts (2-3-0, 3.86GAA, 84.5%SV). Ersson is familiar with San Jose, earning the shootout win in November. However, he needs a better performance against the Sharks to boost his confidence.
Unlike Ersson, Michkov did not perform well against the Ducks. John Tortorella benched him in the third period. Some talking heads threw a fit, but Tortorella had a plan for Michkov, and it worked out.
Michkov responds well when challenged by Tortorella. He did it earlier this season when he was a healthy scratch. Then, against the Los Angeles Kings, Michkov added a goal and an assist. Frankly, Tortorella is developing Michkov efficiently at the NHL level.
Head-to-head, Michkov had an assist (and a shootout goal) versus San Jose in November. Celebrini did not account for a point through 22:50 of ice time.
Rasmus Ristolainen (1G, 8A, 46%FF, 59HIT, 56BLK, 13TK:35GV) was the best defenseman on the ice for Philadelphia against the Kings. He added an assist when Michkov scored to give the Flyers a lead. Los Angeles rallied, but not at the expense of Ristolainen. A bad turnover by Konecny and a porous defense against faceoffs factored heavily into a blown third-period lead.
Ristolainen is six points away from 300 in his career. Tonight presents an opportunity for points in consecutive outings.
Projected Lineup: Philadelphia Flyers
#74 Owen Tippett – #14 Sean Couturier – #11 Travis Konecny
#71 Tyson Foerster – #27 Noah Cates – #10 Bobby Brink
#21 Scott Laughton – #48 Morgan Frost – #39 Matvei Michkov
#86 Joel Farabee – #25 Ryan Poehling – #19 Garnet Hathaway
#6 Travis Sanheim – #8 Cam York
#5 Egor Zamula – #55 Rasmus Ristolainen
#24 Nick Seeler – #9 Jamie Drysdale
#33 Sam Ersson
(#35 Alexei Kolosov)
Projected Lineup: San Jose Sharks
#20 Fabian Zetterlund – #71 Macklin Celebrini – #2 Will Smith
#10 Klim Kostin – #64 Mikael Granlund – #11 Luke Kunin
#15 Nikolai Kovalenko – #21 Alex Wennberg – #73 Tyler Toffoli
#23 Barclay Goodrow – #7 Nico Sturm – #53 Ty Dellandrea
#3 Henry Thrun – #4 Cody Ceci
#38 Mario Ferraro – #37 Timothy Liljegren
#85 Shakir Mukhamadullin – #84 Jan Rutta
#40 Alexandar Georgiev
(#30 Yaroslav Askarov)
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