GDT: #77 | FLYERS at Stars | Tue., Mar. 27, 2018, 8:30 pm ET | FS-SW+, NBCSP

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

DALLAS STARS (38-30-8) vs. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (38-25-13)

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BROADCAST INFORMATION

• Television: FS-SW+, 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
• Stars' Website: Official Dallas Stars Website

GAME PREVIEW, NOTES and STATISTICS

• Preview: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Bill-Meltzer/Flyers-Gameday-32718--DAL/45/91930
• NHL Stats: NHL.com - Stats
• Flyers' Stats: Philadelphia Flyers Stats | 2017-2018
• Stars' Stats: Dallas Stars Stats | 2017-2018

TEAMS' STATISTICS

Team	Games	Record	Points	Home	Away	GF	GA	PP%	PK%	FO%	Save%	PIM
Stars	76	38-30-8	84	24-12-3	14-18-5	211	205	19.8	81.5	52.7	.910	782
Flyers	76	38-25-13	89	19-13-6	19-12-7	228	221	20.3	75.7	53.4	.904	635

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PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Possible Lineup
Lines

28 Claude Giroux - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
54 Oskar Lindblom - 19 Nolan Patrick - 93 Jakub Voracek
40 Jordan Weal - 51 Valtteri Filppula - 17 Wayne Simmonds
15 Jori Lehtera - 21 Scott Laughton - 24 Matt Read​

Pairings​

9 Ivan Provorov - 53 Shayne Gostisbehere
47 Andrew MacDonald - 6 Travis Sanheim
23 Brandon Manning - 3 Radko Gudas​

Goalies

34 Petr Mrazek (starter) - 49 Alex Lyon​

Injuries and Scratches

8 Robert Hagg recently returned from injury but could be a healthy scratch.
12 Michael Raffl has an upper body and will miss two weeks from March 19.
20 Taylor Leier could be a healthy scratch.
22 Dale Weise could be a healthy scratch.
29 Johnny Oduya is day-to-day with a lower body injury.
30 Michel Neuvirth is on IR. Projected out 4-to-6 weeks from Feb. 20 with a lower body injury.

March 21 update: Could return during this road trip.​

37 Brian Elliott is on IR. Projected out 5-to-6 weeks from Feb. 13 after core muscle surgery.

March 21 update: Not expected to return until the last week of the regular season.​

Power Play Units

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

DALLAS STARS

Possible Lineup
Lines

14 Jamie Benn - 91 Tyler Seguin - 47 Alexander Radulov
21 Antoine Roussel- 12 Radek Faksa - 18 Tyler Pitlick
13 Mattias Janmark -17 Devin Shore - 25 Brett Ritchie
16 Jason Dickinson - 90 Jason Spezza - ​

Pairings

23 Esa Lindell - 3 John Klingberg
2 Dan Hamhuis - 29 Greg Pateryn
33 Marc Methot - 28 Stephen Johns
6 Julius Honka (7 d-men). ​

Goalies

32 Kari Lehtonen (starter) - 35 Mike McKenna​

Injuries and Scratches

10 Martin Hanzal is on IR due to a spinal fusion surgery earlier this month. He will out 6-to-7 months.
11 Curtis McKenzie could be a healthy scratch.
30 Ben Bishop is day-to-day with a lower body injury. He will be re-evaluated approx. April 1.
40 Remi Elie could be a healthy scratch.
46 Gemel Smith could be a healthy scratch.
48 Dillon Heatherington could be a healthy scratch.
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Power Play Units

1. Brett Ritchie - Jamie Benn- Alexander Radulov - Tyler Seguin - John Klingnerg
2. Mattias Janmark - Radek Faksa - Curtis McKenzie - Esa Lindell - Stephen Johns​

MEDIA CONTACTS
Dallas Morning News

Web site -- Dallas Stars Hockey News, Schedule, Scores: Dallas Morning News
Mike Heika's Twitter -- Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) | Twitter​

Fox Sports Southwest

Web site -- Dallas Stars News, Schedule, Scores, Stats, Roster
Josh Bogorad's Twitter -- Josh Bogorad (@JoshBogorad) | Twitter​

KTCK-AM The Ticket 1310

Web site -- Bruce LeVine (@BruceLeVinePuck) | Twitter
Owen Newkirk's Twitter -- Owen Newkirk (@OwenNewkirk) | Twitter​

Stars Inside Edge

Web site (News) -- Official Dallas Stars Website
Mark Stepneski's Twitter -- Mark Stepneski (@StarsInsideEdge) | Twitter​

FLYERS' SCHEDULE

Date	Game	Time (ET)	Television	Radio
Wed., Mar. 28	Philadelphia at Colorado	10:00 pm	ALT, NBCSP+	93.3
Sun., Apr. 1	Boston at Philadelphia	12:30 pm	NBC, TVAS	93.3
Tue., Apr. 3	Philadelphia at NY Islanders	7:00 pm	MSG+ 2, NBCSP+	93.3
Thu., Apr. 5	Carolina at Philadelphia	7:00 pm	NBCSN, NBCSP	97.5
Sat., Apr. 7	NY Rangers at Philadelphia	7:00 pm	NBC	97.5

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GAME DAY THREAD MUSIC

"Starship Trooper" By Yes
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Click to read more...

 

[Rebels57]

Slumpbuuuusteerrs

 

[PHILOUDELPHIA]

Great choice MSE and with us heading out west, I watched a Eastwood movie I haven't seen in decades. Even the Wizard of oz Munchkin was in this, yup from 1973 classic High Plains Drifter To any who hasn't seen it a moment of silence for your poor tv choices.

 

[dats81]

No margin for error. NJ and FLA are catching up and playing well (again).

I expect a sloppy high scoring affair between two teams that don't like to play defense.

 

[BackWithaVengeance]

I hope Matt Read will save the day again when TK watches the last period from the bench. Gudas can show Sanheim how to make tape-to-tape passes and Filppula is here to rescue the team before Patrick makes any more stupid things.

I see the improvements this team made and the injection of youngsters but it doesn't get in my head why the stubborn coach still tries the same nonsense over and over again.

Every senior home would be jealous the way we treat our veterans.

 

[OzFlyers]

Still trying to decide if this team is scrappy or crappy. 10pts out of a possible 16pts the last 8 games. Keep the points coming and we will make the playoffs.

 

[usahockey22flyers]

Stars rolled over and died lsat night at home against lowly Vancouver.

Legitimate chance to get two road points here...plz don't F it up @Flyers

 

[MorgantiDrinksBlood]

This team gives me goiters, if unaware google it, Fire Hakstok.

 

[TheKingPin]

I just don’t see us winning this game. Have we really extended any other teams losing streak this year? I’m hoping for a win here and an OT loss against the avs to stay in WC1 and hurt the blues.

 

[Legion of Gloom]

 

[baudib1]

Benn and Seguin are two of my favorite non-Flyers, should be a fun game.

 

[boxcar65]

Nah, we’ve got this one. Flyers, 3-2.

 

[marcsson68]

Will be an interesting one. Stars are even more under pressure than the Flyers. They are almost looking from outside since yesterday.
Another three point game is very likely. A loss in Dallas could mean a lot because both the Panthers´ and the Devils´ schedules consist of games against tanking franchises.

 

[BackWithaVengeance]

At this point we may try John Muse.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

Let me guess, another OT loss and giving up 4 goals?

 

[FlyTimmo]

We are still in relatively good position. But, this is the least enthused I have been about making the playoffs ever.

 

[deadhead]

Dallas has blown more 1st rd picks than most teams, yet manage to stay afloat and have pretty much rebuilt.

traded 1st rd picks in 2007 and 2008, missed with Glennie (#8) in 2009, missed with Campbell (#11) in 2010, gave up on Oleksiak (#14) in 2011 (traded for 2019 4th), missed on 2 2nd rd picks (#43 and #54) in 2012, but finally started hitting on 1st rd picks Faksa (#12-2012), Nichushkin (#10-2013).

What saved this franchise was drafting in later rounds (or why those picks do matter):

Colton Sceviour #107 (2007) - eventually left in FA in 2016
Jamie Benn #129 (2007) - great junior scorer, skating was an issue, hmm, sound like someone we know?
Alex Chiasson #38 (2009) - included in trade for Spezza
Reilly Smith #69 (2009) - traded with Loui Erikkson for Seguin
John Klingberg #131 (2010) - skinny Swede with two way game
Brett Richie #44 (2011)
Devin Shore #61 (2012)
Esa Lindell #74 (2012)
Gemel Smith #104 (2012)
Remi Elie #40 (2013)

And some astute dealing, the Seguin deal, Eric Cole for Janmark (25), signed Pitlick (26) as a FA (#31 for Edmonton who let him walk), Roussel (28) as a FA out of the AHL back in 2011, got Stephen Johns (25) as a throw-in in the Sharp trade in 2015, Greg Pateryn (27) for Jordie Benn.

Hextall is doing similar things but hitting on his 1st rd picks, now I'd like to see some of these smart "depth" moves, finding underrated assets in their 20s in trades and free agency to fill out the roster.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

We are still in relatively good position. But, this is the least enthused I have been about making the playoffs ever.

I want the Flyers to make the playoffs because that is what you want your team to do. But if anything, getting into the playoffs gives Hexy more of a reason to keep Hak and Lappy around...

 

[FlyTimmo]

I want the Flyers to make the playoffs because that is what you want your team to do. But if anything, getting into the playoffs gives Hexy more of a reason to keep Hak and Lappy around...

Ultimately, I want them to make it, but that also means Hak gets another year which, I don't know if I could tolerate.

If Lappy isn't relieved of his duties after the season than I have no faith in this team.

 

[ItMe]

Cannot wait to see how Hakstol and the rest of that horrendous coaching staff screws this up. I really hope they miss the playoffs, that would have to be the end of Hakstol.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

Cannot wait to see how Hakstol and the rest of that horrendous coaching staff screws this up. I really hope they miss the playoffs, that would have to be the end of Hakstol.

Don't worry, we'll miss the playoffs, win the lottery, draft Dahlin, and sit him to play AMac.

 

[Domino666]

I feel very blah about this game, and am wondering how the f*** Lappy still has a job

 

[deadhead]

Hakstol is down to his 4th and 5th goalies, I suspect Hextall already considers this season a success.
How many teams could sniff the playoffs with Mrazek/Lyon as their goalies -
CBJ (Bob), NJ (Kincaid), and Florida (Luongo) have been getting great goal tending.
Pittburgh is only 3 points ahead of us because Murray is struggling this year, and he'd still be an improvement over what we've thrown out there.

The only playoff teams with bad goal tending are the Caps (Holtby) and St Louis (Allen, but 7-1, .915 his last 8 games).
Minn (Dbynk) and San Jose (Jones) are the only other teams with merely "above average" goal tending.

You don't need a Vezina winner, but you do need above average, "reliable" goaltenders that can keep you in games.
Right now the Flyers must be among the five worst teams in the NHL in goal.

What bodes well is next year's goal tending almost has to be better by default, .905% last year, .906% this year, at some point regression to the mean sets in, right?

The flip side is that the team is better than its record, since the goaltenders are pulling them down the last two years (they weren't as good three years ago when they posted 96 points, but .920% will cover a multitude of sins). Which means a "quick fix" (getting goal tending back to average, i.e., .913-.915% would instantly improve them by 5-10 points).

 

[FLYguy3911]

Hitchcock vs. Hakstol? Getting sleepy just thinking about it.

Flyers should win but they never play to the obvious result.

 

[deadhead]

Dallas, like a lot of mediocre teams, is a good team at home, the road is another matter.