John Tortorella and the Philadelphia Flyers (15-15-4) clash with the intrastate rival Pittsburgh Penguins (15-15-5) at 7:00pm/ET. Tonight is the first of four installments of the “Battle of Pennsylvania” in 2024-2025.
Both clubs have identical win percentages. However, the Penguins (3-1-1) earned more points toward the NHL Standings over the last five games. Tonight is critical for the Flyers. They are competing head-to-head with Pittsburgh in the NHL Metropolitan Division.
Philadelphia is 2-3-0 in their last five games, and Tortorella stressed how vital these games are before the holiday break.
The Penguins (-122) are the favorites per DraftKings Sportsbook. Pittsburgh stands out on the powerplay (13th: 22.2%), the penalty kill (9th: 82.4%), and faceoffs (8th: 52.3%). The Flyers average more goals per game (17th: 3GF) and fewer goals against (30th: 3.56GA). If the officials allow the two clubs to play, fortune could favor Philadelphia. Tortorella stressed the need to defend against designed scoring plays on the faceoff in the defensive zone, however:
“There’s some mistakes. We’ve had certain turnovers, and I don’t think our goaltending has been sharp. [It’s] a combination of both. I said that after the game [vs. Columbus Blue Jackets]. Faceoff goals, it’s an epidemic right now. We got to work through it [and] try to get better.” – John Tortorella; 12/23/2024
A win in regulation for the Flyers will put them ahead of the Penguins in the NHL Metropolitan Division. If Philadelphia pulls out a win in overtime, they will tie Pittsburgh in the standings. Both clubs are outside the Eastern Conference Wildcard hunt, trailing the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
When: 7:00pm/ET
Where: PPG Paints Arena; Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast Info: NBC Sports Philadelphia; 93.3 WMMR
Last Game PHI: 12/21/24; 5-4 OTW; vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Last Game PIT: 12/21/24; 3-0 L; at New Jersey Devils
Philadelphia Flyers
Sam Ersson (7-5-2, 88.1%SV, 3.09GAA) will start. He earned the overtime win versus the Columbus Blue Jackets. If Ersson finishes with a 90%SV or better, it will be a step in the right direction. Tortorella mentioned that the goaltending is not sharp, including Ersson.
Ersson is 2-3-0 with an 83.0%SV and a 3.8GAA in December.
Cam York (3G, 3A, -1, 40BLK, 11HIT, 47.5%FF) responded well in his return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch versus the Los Angeles Kings. He was not on the ice for any of the four goals by the Blue Jackets. York did notch a secondary assist due to his work at the point, placing a shot on goal. Noah Cates scored on the rebound.
Sean Couturier (6G, 11A, 52.6%CF) returns to the lineup. He missed the win versus Columbus. Olle Lycksell filled in for Couturier. Lycksell returned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms but played well in his recall. If not for a successful challenge by the Blue Jackets, Lycksell would have scored a goal on Elvis Merzlikins.
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
#6 Travis Sanheim – #8 Cam York
#24 Nick Seeler – #55 Rasmus Ristolainen
#9 Jamie Drysdale – #5 Egor Zamula
#33 Sam Ersson
(#35 Alexei Kolosov)
Projected Lineup: Pittsburgh Penguins
#67 Rickard Rakell – #87 Sidney Crosby – #17 Bryan Rust
#8 Michael Bunting – #71 Evgeni Malkin – #19 Cody Glass
#72 Anthony Beauvillier – #10 Drew O’Connor – #53 Philip Tomasino
#83 Matthew Nieto – #46 Blake Lizotte – #55 Noel Acciari
#73 Pierre-Olivier Joseph – #58 Kris Letang
#24 Matt Grzelcyk – #65 Erik Karlsson
#27 Ryan Graves – #5 Ryan Shea
#35 Tristan Jarry
(#39 Alex Nedeljkovic)
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