Connect with us

Preview

Preview: Flyers visit Blues in November finale

(Heather Cattai/Heather Barry Images, LLC)

After a commanding 3-1 win over the New York Rangers on Black Friday, the Philadelphia Flyers (11-10-3) visit the St. Louis Blues (11-12-1) to close out the month of November. The Flyers aim to carry their momentum into this back-to-back matchup. Meanwhile, the Blues are looking to bounce off of a 3-0 shutout victory against the New Jersey Devils.

This game is a pivotal opportunity for both teams. With each hovering in the middle of the standings in their respective conferences, securing two points could significantly impact their postseason aspirations.

The Blues (-135) are favorites, per DraftKings Sportsbook. They rank 27th (60 GF) in offense, 10th (76 GA) in defense, 30th (14.8%) on the power play, and 20th (78.1%) on the penalty kill. On the other side, the Flyers rank 20th (67 GF) in offense, 6th (79 GA) in defense, 25th (16.4%) on the power play , and 3rd (85.7%) on the penalty kill.

When: 7:00pm ET
Where: Enterprise Center; St. Louis, MO
Broadcast Info: NBC Sports Philadelphia; Flyers Radio 24/7
Last Game PHI: 11/29; 3-1 W; vs New York Rangers
Last Game STL: 11/27; 3-0 W; at New Jersey Devils

Philadelphia Flyers

This game is a pivotal opportunity for both teams. With each hovering in the middle of the standings in their respective conferences, securing two points could significantly impact their postseason aspirations.

The Flyers are led offensively by Travis Konecny, who has consistently driven the team’s scoring. His assist on Sean Couturier’s game-winning goal against Nashville highlighted his playmaking ability as well as his two-goal performance in the win over the Rangers. On the back end, Rasmus Ristolainen is coming off a standout defensive performance, contributing an assist and registering eight blocked shots. With Alexei Kolosov projected to start in net, steady goaltending will be crucial for the Flyers as they wrap up a busy November schedule where they are 7-4-2.

The Blues counter with a dangerous offense anchored by Robert Thomas, their leading scorer and the pivot of their top line. Winger Jordan Kyrou adds speed and finishing ability, making him a constant threat. In goal, Jordan Binnington will look to stifle the Flyers’ attack. Binnington’s strong play can swing the game in the Blues’ favor if he’s at his best.

Special teams will play a significant role in this matchup. The Flyers boast a strong penalty kill, ranking third in the league at 85.7%, while their power play has struggled at just 16.4%. The Blues’ penalty kill is solid at 78.1%, and their power play operates at 14.8%, presenting a challenge for Philadelphia. Both teams will need to take advantage of their opportunities with the man advantage while staying disciplined to avoid costly penalties.

Philadelphia must focus on three key areas to win: improving their power play, maintaining discipline to limit the Blues’ chances, and getting a strong performance in net from Kolosov. St. Louis, on the other hand, needs to pressure the Flyers’ defense with an aggressive forecheck, control the neutral zone to limit Philadelphia’s transition game, and score early to set the tone.

This game is expected to be tightly contested, with both teams looking to capitalize on their strengths. The Flyers’ recent momentum gives them a slight edge, but the Blues’ home-ice advantage and goaltending could make the difference.

Nicolas DeslauriersErik Johnson, and Egor Zamula are healthy scratches. Jamie Drysdale (upper body) remains out of the lineup.

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 – #5 Egor Zamula

#35 Aleksei Kolosov
(#82 Ivan Fedotov)

Projected Lineup: St. Louis Blues

#63 Jake Neighbours – #18 Robert Thomas – #9 Alexandre Texier
#20 Brandon Saad – #10 Brayden Schenn – #25 Jordan Kyrou
#81 Dylan Holloway – #70 Oskar Sundqvist – #76 Zack Bolduc
#13 Alexey Toropchenko – #12 Radek Faksa – #71 Mathieu Joseph

#22 Ryan Suter – #55 Colton Parayko
#6 Philip Broberg – #72 Justin Faulk
#77 Pierre-Olivier Joseph – #51 Matthew Kessel

#50 Jordan Binnington
(#30 Joel Hofer)

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a comment...

More in Preview