We still have to preview the opponent on a night that matters so much for our captain. As readers and writers at Flyers Nation, we’ll cover and see a lot of content about Claude Giroux over the next few days. I want to keep this article focused on the upcoming tilt instead of number 28. I’ll say that what he did for this team, city, and me personally mattered a lot. He has had two of the greatest moments in my sports-watching life, and there is no way I could ever say thank you.
However, he isn’t gone yet, and the Flyers still have to play the Nashville Predators on St. Patrick’s Day. So get some Jameson and Guinness and watch these two teams take on each other for the first time since January 1st, 2019. It’s been a bit.
That doesn’t mean the two teams haven’t interacted, though. An offseason trade sent Ryan Ellis to Philadelphia, while Philippe Myers traded in Broad Street for Broadway – the Nashville version. The Predators flipped Nolan Patrick to the Vegas Golden Knights during that transaction. This trade hasn’t worked out for all parties, but here we are.
Predators Stats (per JFresh): 5v5 xGF% – 50.1% | 5v5 xGF – 2.33 | 5v5 xGA – 2.32 | Goal Differential Above Expected – +39.7
Are the Predators Good?
Kinda. John Hynes’s team plays about dead even hockey in terms of chance creation and shot quality. Their most effective player – this does not mean best – is former Flyer Nick Cousins, while the rest of the players you consider “good” on Nashville have fit the bill. Interestingly, the first and fourth lines in “Smashville” have led the way this year. Both lines are odd, in the most simplistic manner.
The first line is the Matt Duchene and Filip Forsberg show. Both players are dominating opponents through chance creation and finishing talent. Funnily enough, they’ve surrendered more goals than you would expect, but their shooting talent has made up for the deficit. Oddly enough, they’re doing this while carrying Ryan Johansen. It isn’t too controversial of an opinion that the ex-Columbus Blue Jacket has floundered in the past few seasons, but this year he has somewhat of a resurgence. Is it sustainable? Maybe not. Is it happening? Yes.
Cousins has greatly out-chanced opponents at 5v5 hockey, but has seen more goals scored against – expect that to change soon. The rest of the Predators’ fourth line has similarly controlled play but has received the saves and goals, maybe slightly above what they deserve, but it’s at least within a realm of expectations.
Besides those two lines, it’s a story of their first and third pairing. Obviously, Roman Josi is scoring and dominating play at an elite rate this season. The unit of him and Dante Fabbro has dominated opponents all season while vastly outsourcing opponents – like the Predators’ first line. They tilt the ice enough to make up for the results of the remainder of the defensive core, which ranges from passable to outright bad.
So, Who Isn’t Carrying Their Weight
The entire middle six, except Eeli Tolvanen, has underperformed all season but is receiving some incredible saves from Juuse Saros to keep their goals for percentage respectable. I wouldn’t call their play good, but a handful of the middle six has played well enough to stay competitive almost every night. Nashville is an issue as they need something more from Mikael Granlund, Colton Sissons, and Luke Kunin to be more competitive. To this point, it’s unlikely that any of those players hold enough of their weight to rationalize their place in Hynes’s lineup.
Another issue is the collapse of Mattias Ekholm’s play. For most of the season, he’s been stuck with Philippe Myers whose play has fallen off a cliff over the past two years. At one time, Myers had the potential to turn into a real difference-maker in the NHL, but the likelihood of that reality has collapsed over the past fifteen months. Maybe the pandemic sat heavier on his mind than others, but it’s clear his development has stalled or even regressed. It’s sad to see that, but there’s a strong chance he doesn’t play against the Flyers.
Their Best Player is the Goalie Though
I’ve alluded to this earlier, but the Predators live and die by their goaltending. The Finnish netminder has put together a Vezina finalist caliber season and could easily be seen as the second or third best goalie in the NHL this year. I like Carter Hart and how he has rebounded, but Saros is playing on a completely different plain than the Flyer’s netminder this year. That’s how good Juuse has played; he’s just that good.
What to Expect
The Predators are winning a lot but surrendering a ton of chances. Is that sustainable? Maybe. However, they play a really fun game so get excited to watch that tonight. If anything, it may allow for some highlight-reel plays because it isn’t like the Flyers slow down other teams’ offensive output.
However, tonight is about Giroux and celebrating what he’s done in Philadelphia.
PHI Record: 18-30-11, 47 pts, 8th in Metropolitan
NSH Record: 35-21-4, 74 pts, 4th in Central
When: 7:00PM ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center
PHI Goalie: Carter Hart
NSH Goalie: Juuse Saros
PHI Unofficial Lineup
#48 Morgan Frost – #28 Claude Giroux – #11 Travis Konecny
#25 James van Riemsdyk – #19 Derick Brassard – #89 Cam Atkinson
#23 Oskar Lindblom – #13 Kevin Hayes – #86 Joel Farabee
#71 Max Willman – #38 Patrick Brown – #17 Zack MacEwen
#9 Ivan Provorov – #45 Cam York
#6 Travis Sanheim – #70 Rasmus Ristolainen
#3 Keith Yandle – #61 Justin Braun
#79 Carter Hart
#35 Martin Jones
NSH Unofficial Lineup
#9 Filip Forsberg – #92 Ryan Johansen – #95 Matt Duchene
#28 Eeli Tolvanen – #64 Mikael Granlund – #11 Luke Kunin
#13 Yakov Trenin – #10 Colton Sissons – #84 Tanner Jeannot
#21 Nick Cousins – #47 Michael McCarron – #26 Phillip Tomasino
#59 Roman Josi – #57 Dante Fabbro
#14 Mattias Ekholm – #45 Alexandre Carrier
#17 Ben Harpur – #55 Phil Myers
#74 Juuse Saros
#33 David Rittich
Last Game PHI: 3/13/22, 4-3 SOL vs. Montreal
Last Game NSH: 3/15/22, 4-1 W vs. Pittsburgh
News and Notes
– All the talk today, and deservedly so, will be about Claude Giroux’s 1000th game. He is only the second player in franchise history to reach the illustrious milestone, and the Flyers are pulling out all the stops for the event. Fans can pick up Giroux’s favorite food, grilled cheese, around the arena, commemorative 1000th game shirts that will be worn by the players and also sold to fans, a tremendous planned pregame ceremony, and more.
– Nashville’s last visit to Wells Fargo Center was all the way back on December 20th, 2018. Ten Flyers who appeared in that game are no longer on the the team and Carter Hart was making just his second NHL start in a 2-1 Philadelphia win.
– Phil Myers is expected to make his return to Philadelphia for the first time since being traded in the Ryan Ellis deal. Myers has struggled with the Predators this season but he’ll still likely get a nice ovation from the Flyer faithful.
Broadcast Info: NBC Sports Philadelphia, ESPN+, 97.5 The Fanatic
Injuries:
PHI – Ryan Ellis (lower-body), Nate Thompson (shoulder), Sean Couturier (back), Kevin Connauton (upper-body), Scott Laughton (concussion)
NSH – Matt Benning (upper-body), Mark Borowiecki (lower-body)
