3 things to watch in Game 62: Flyers vs. Avalanche
Tonight: Flyers vs. Colorado Avalanche
Site: Wells Fargo Center / Philadelphia
Time: 7 p.m.
TV/Radio: CSN/97.5 FM
Records: Flyers 28-26-7; Avalanche 17-40-3
FLYERS PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
40-Jordan Weal, 28-Claude Giroux, 17-Wayne Simmonds
25-Nick Cousins, 10-Brayden Schenn, 93-Jake Voracek
12-Michael Raffl, 14-Sean Couturier, 22-Dale Weise
76-Chris VandeVelde, 78-Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, 13-Roman Lyubimov
Defensemen
9-Ivan Provorov & 47-Andrew MacDonald
53-Shayne Gostisbehere & 32-Mark Streit
15-Michael Del Zotto & 3-Radko Gudas
Goalie
35-Steve Mason
Injuries/Suspensions
LW Travis Konecny — injured reserve, leg injury
D Brandon Manning — serving first of two-game suspension for hit on PIT Jake Guentzel
AVALANCHE PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
92-Gabriel Landeskog, 29-Nathan Mackinnon, 14-Blake Comeau
96-Mikko Rantanen, 9-Matt Duchene, 83-Matt Nieto
8-Joe Colborne, 7-John Mitchell, 12-Jarome Iginla
27-Andreas Martinsen, 25-Mikhail Grigorenko, 57-Gabriel Bourque
Defensemen
51-Fedor Tyutin & 4-Tyson Barrie
28-Patrick Wiercioch & 6-Erik Johnson
32-Francois Beauchemin & 45-Mark Barberio
Goalie
40-Jeremy Smith
Injuries/Suspensions
D Nikita Zadorov — out for season, fractured ankle
G Semyon Varlamov — out for season, groin surgery
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
1. Can they score?
Remember that 10-game win streak the Flyers had so long ago? Well, they haven't lit the lamp much since then. They have averaged 1.79 goals per game in the 29 contests since that streak ended. The shots have been there, but they're not going in.
"I think at the end of the day, just because you’re outshooting a team doesn’t mean you’re dominating them," Brayden Schenn said. "You can have 35 shots, they can have more scoring chances than you. I think it’s all about the quality of scoring chances and Grade-A opportunities. If you look at teams that are scoring right now, it’s all about making plays. It’s not risk-reward, but you do need to throw a little risk into your game to make plays and score goals."
2. Confidence level
Losing games will take a toll on a team — the Flyers have lost seven of their last nine games and the Avalanche have dropped 17 of their last 21. Compounding that is the looming trade deadline, which comes on Wednesday at 3 p.m. On struggling teams, players have concerns about being dealt.
“Maybe there’s demand for me, I don’t know,” Mark Streit said. “I didn’t really think about it. I know I’m an older guy, my contract is up so usually you talk about those guys being dealt. That’s just the nature of the business but I’m all for here. I love the guys and love the team. I want to win with this team.”
3. Goalie matchup
Steve Mason will make his first start in seven games. He has an 8-7-3 record in 18 career games against Colorado with a 2.99 goals-against average and .905 save percentage. Jeremy Smith will be in goal for the Avalanche, making his fourth career start. He is 1-2-0 in his three games with a 3.05 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.