GDT: #35 | FLYERS at Sabres | Fri., Dec. 22, 2017, 7:00 pm ET | SN, MSG-B, NBCSP

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

BUFFALO SABRES (8-19-7) vs. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (15-12-7)

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BROADCAST INFORMATION

• Television: SN, MSG-B, NBCSP
• Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
• Streams: Do not post or request any streams or links to unauthorized sites.

TEAMS' WEBSITES

• Flyers' Facebook: Security Check Required
• Flyers' Twitter: Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) | Twitter
• Flyers' Website: Official Philadelphia Flyers Website
• Sabres' Website: Official Buffalo Sabres Website

GAME PREVIEW, NOTES and STATISTICS

• Preview: 5 THINGS: Flyers vs. Sabres
• NHL Stats: NHL.com - Stats
• Flyers' Stats: Philadelphia Flyers Stats | 2017-2018
• Sabres' Stats: Buffalo Sabres Stats | 2017-2018

TEAMS' STATISTICS

Team	Games	Record	Points	Home	Away	GF	GA	PP%	PK%	FO%	Save%	PIM
Sabres	34	8-19-7	23	4-10-2	4-9-5	72	113	12.7	82.5	51.4	.896	272
Flyers	34	15-12-7	37	8-7-4	7-5-3	96	95	20.0	76.1	52.9	.909	300

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PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Possible Lineup
Lines

28 Claude Giroux - 14 Sean Couturier - 17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl - 51 Valtteri Filppula - 93 Jakub Voracek
40 Jordan Weal - 19 Nolan Patrick - 22 Dale Weise
15 Jori Lehtera - 21 Scott Laughton - 11 Travis Konecny​

Pairings​

9 Ivan Provorov - 47 Andrew McDonald
53 Shayne Gostisbehere - 8 Robert Hagg
6 Travis Sanheim - 3 Radko Gudas​

Goalies

37 Brian Elliott (expected starter) - 49 Alex Lyon​

Injuries and Scratches

20 Taylor Leier has an upper body injury and is questionable.
23 Brandon Manning is on IR with a right hand/wrist injury. He is out 3-to-4 weeks from Dec. 6
30 Michal Neuvirth is on IR with a leg injury. He is expected to join team on post-Christmas trip, and eventually practice, but his return date is not specified.
39 Mark Alt could be a healthy scratch​

Power Play Units

1. Wayne Simmonds - Sean Couturier - Jake Voracek - Claude Giroux - Shayne Gostisbehere
2. Jordan Weal - Nolan Patrick - Valtteri Filppula - Travis Konecny - Ivan Provorov​

Media Contacts
Courier-Post of South Jersey

Web site | Flyers - NHL - News - CourierPostOnline.com
Dave Isaac's Twitter | Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) | Twitter​

HockeyBuzz.com

Web site -- http://www.hockeybuzz.com/team/Philadelphia-Flyers
Bill Meltzer's Twitter -- Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) | Twitter​

NBC Sports Philadelphia

Web site -- Flyers
John Boruk's Twitter -- John Boruk (@johnborukNBCS) | Twitter​

Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer

Web site -- Philly.com Flyers
Sam Carchidi's Twitter -- Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) | Twitter​

Sons of Penn

Web site -- Home page – Right Sidebar
Twitter -- Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) | Twitter​

BUFFALO SABRES

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Possible Lineup
Lines

9 Evander Kane - 15 Jack Eichel - 23 Sam Reinhart
28 Zemgus Girgensons - 90 Ryan O'Reilly - 21 Kyle Okposo
67 Benoit Pouliot - 10 Jacob Josefson - 29 Jason Pominville
17 Jordan Nolan - 22 Johan Larsson - 20 Scott Wilson​

Pairings

6 Marco Scandella - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
19 Jake McCabe - 47 Zach Bogosian
4 Josh Gorges - 93 Viktor Antipin​

Goalies

40 Robin Lehner (expected starter) - 31 Chad Johnson ​

Injuries and Scratches

27 Taylor Fedun is on injured reserve with a lower body injury
41 Justin Falk could be a healthy scratch
71 Evan Rodrigues could be a healthy scratch
93 Viktor Antipin could be a healthy scratch
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Power Play Units

1. Evander Kane - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart - Evan Rodrigues - Rasto Ristolainen
2. Benoit Pouliot - Ryan O'Reilly - Kyle Okposo - Jason Pominville - Marco Scandella​

Media Contacts
Buffalo News

Web site -- Sabres - The Buffalo News
Mike Harrington's Twitter -- Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) | Twitter
John Vogl's Twitter -- John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) | Twitter​

Olean Times-Herald

Web site -- Sabres
Bill Hoppe's Twitter -- Bill Hoppe (@BillHoppeNHL) | Twitter​

NHL

Joe Yerdon's Twitter -- Joe Yerdon (@JoeYerdon) | Twitter​

WGR 550

Web site -- Sabres
Paul Hamilton's Twitter -- Paul Hamilton (@pham1717) | Twitter
Brian Koziol's Twitter -- Brian Koziol (@BrianWGR) | Twitter​

FLYERS' SCHEDULE

Date	Game	Time (ET)	Television	Radio
Saturday, Dec. 23	Philadelphia at Columbus	7:00 pm	FS-O, NBCSP	93.3
Thursday, Dec. 28	Philadelphia at Florida	7:30 pm	FS-F, NBCSP	93.3
Friday, Dec. 29	Philadelphia at Tampa Bay	7:30 pm	TVAS, SUN, NBCSP	97.5
Tuesday, Jan. 2	Pittsburgh at Philadelphia	7:00 pm	NBCSN	97.5
Thursday, Jan. 4	NY Islanders at Philadelphia	7:00 pm	NBCSP, MSG+	97.5

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GAME DAY THREAD MUSIC
"Shake Hands with Beef" by Primus

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Click to read more...

 

[Magua]

Buffalo vs. Philly.....Friday night.....before the holidays. f*** that sounds like too much fun.

 

[klutch]

CANT LOSE THIS

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

We should really get more than 2 f***ing goals against the Sabres this time around...

 

[FLYguy3911]

I was half watching that NBC Sports NHL show after the game, but the Sabres were more or less saying Hakstol's system is wizeak. Let's see how they respond.

 

[Curufinwe]

Neuvirth should start this one. Send Lyon down for the Phantoms last game before Xmas.

Actually, I don't think they can loan Lyon to the Phantoms during the roster freeze, but they could still activate Neuvirth.

 

[Tripod]

Neuvirth should start this one. Send Lyon down for the Phantoms last game before Xmas.

Actually, I don't think they can loan Lyon to the Phantoms during the roster freeze, but they could still activate Neuvirth.

Yup. That gives Elliot an extra day off before having a long break after CBus.

This is a must win as the CBus game will likely be a loss.

 

[wuf]

Maybe I'll try to make it out to this one. Try to shout at Dave to play TK more.

 

[Rebels57]

Anyone remember that NHL.com list of top Centers over the summer that had guys like Johansen and Draisaitl ahead of Giroux? f***ing hilarious in hindsight..even with Giroux playing LW and not Center

#NHLTopPlayers: Top 20 Centers

 

[TheKingPin]

Yup. That gives Elliot an extra day off before having a long break after CBus.

This is a must win as the CBus game will likely be a loss.

Probably, but the jackets are in a bit of a letdown right now. I think their PP has struggled a lot. If we can right that issue from last game we stand a decent shot. As always, comes down to goaltending.

I could see this being a hard game to win if we get down early. If we get a lead early we can probably take it somewhat easily. Looking for a big game from Patrick here.

 

[TCTC]

Anyone remember that NHL.com list of top Centers over the summer that had guys like Johansen and Draisaitl ahead of Giroux? ****ing hilarious in hindsight..even with Giroux playing LW and not Center

#NHLTopPlayers: Top 20 Centers

What's weird is that Draisaitl's ES production still looks pretty good, but he only has 2 PP points. Last season he had 27.

He's really the only player I feel bad for on this Edmonton team. He could be a franchise player on pretty much any other team. Instead he'll be forever be behind McDavid on a garbage club like the Oilers.

 

[OzFlyers]

So does Lyon get this game or Elliot back to back? A nice break coming up but I expect the latter.

 

[Winston Wolf]

What's weird is that Draisaitl's ES production still looks pretty good, but he only has 2 PP points. Last season he had 27.

He's really the only player I feel bad for on this Edmonton team. He could be a franchise player on pretty much any other team. Instead he'll be forever be behind McDavid on a garbage club like the Oilers.

I've watched quite a few Oilers' games this season and while he looks good, I hardly see a franchise player there. Both Giroux and Voracek are easily better than him now and I don't see him ever reaching either of their current levels. It also seems like he's at his best when he's possessing the puck along the boards, rather than playing in the center of the ice.

Also, the Oilers played a better game last night than the Flyers have played all season. They were overrated all offseason, but I wouldn't write them off yet.

 

[Curufinwe]

The Oilers had to score two late goals to win 3-2 at home.

When the Flyers played the Blues, they shut them out in St Louis.

 

[flyersfan187]

At least I enjoy the sabres broadcast team. The sabres and bruins have to be the best in the league for excitement even if you don't agree with what they say.

 

[dats81]

This game will tell a lot about their mindset and how determined they are to make a push for the playoffs.

 

[bennysflyers16]

Im flying home for Xmas to the home of Bobby tonight so will miss the game.. Make this an informative GDT as will read when I land ,,,

Merry Christmas to you all and all your families !!!!!

 

[Stizzle]

 

[Magua]

How can you dislike that man?! On or off the ice!

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

I can't be more proud to have him on the team... and on my fantasy team .

 

[AdamParrot]

Voras and beer, so typical. Czech boy, classic.

Every summer he is in big action around Brno with some hockey players (Pavelec, Radek Smolenak...) and yeah, you don't want see how they look at the morning next day.

I love him. Fantastic player and fantastic person.

 

[Appleyard]

How can you dislike that man?! On or off the ice!

I feel like as people in general the 'core' group of this team seem pretty hard to dislike and kind of full of personality... even if you don't like them as players.

Maybe it is because Giroux, Simmonds and Ghost were never 'meant' to be stars growing up so never had the scrutiny and media training etc until pretty much adults in very late teens/early 20's... but they actually all have personality unlike a lot of NHLers.

And Jake is a Euro even though a star since a kid... and Euros don't exactly seem to do the whole 'media trained, cookie cutter answers etc' like a lot of North Americans do. Though Jake does seem far more 'off the wall' than most Euros around the league!

 

[hayen]

This game will tell a lot about their mindset and how determined they are to make a push for the playoffs.

No excuse to lose this if they are of the right mindset. For us to make it, everyday is playoff hockey and that focus and determination will develop us into being a playoff team.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Does Elliott continue to get ran through Hakstol’s gauntlet this weekend?

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

Does Elliott continue to get ran through Hakstol’s gauntlet this weekend?

It’s basically lose/lose. Start Lyon and he loses and everyone screams they should of started Elliot both starts
Or Elliot wins tonight and gets lit up tomorrow and there is complaining.