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Game Day: Flyers at Maple Leafs
Lance HornbyMore from Lance Hornby
Game Day: Flyers at Maple Leafs
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (34-28-8) at TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (42-23-5)
Friday 7 P.M., Scotiabank Arena
TV: TSN4; RADIO: TSN 1050
THE BIG MATCHUP
C Claude Giroux vs. G Frederik Andersen
It has been a long time since the Maple Leafs have had to worry about their goaltending barometer, but Andersen’s starts durnig the past two games, whether a product of team troubles or not, are a concern. He will face a Philly team primed for a late-season playoff push, and while Giroux’s offensive numbers are down from last year, it’s go time.
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
Orange wave
Have the Flyers left this too late? While they’re finally getting some quality goaltending, there are a lot of difficult teams on the menu to get past and make up ground, including this first of two dates with the Leafs coming after a home date versus Washington. In the only meeting this year, the Flyers were whacked 6-0 at SBA with Andreas Johnsson netting a hat trick.
Home alone
Toronto has heard boos at SBA twice from its fickle fans this week, but has not lost three in a row on Bay St. this season. On Wednesday, the Leafs came close to their first five-goal comeback to win since a 7-6 overtime victory over Boston in 1989. They have to carry those 29 third-period shots into Friday, especially with a day off.
Where there’s a will
After sputtering much of his shortened season, William Nylander has looked more dynamic of late and coach Mike Babcock called it his most engaged performance of the season for generating chances.
JVR is back
Though he was blanked in the first homecoming, former Leafs winger James van Riemsdyk is up to 21 goals after an early season injury. He has two power play goals, an area the Flyers have laboured on.
Puck protection
This should be a good game in the dots, the two best faceoff teams in the league, though the Flyers’ 55.3% is a big lead and Claude Giroux is at almost 60%.
LEAFS GAME DAY LINES
LW C RW
Patrick Marleau John Tavares Mitch Marner
Andreas Johnsson Auston Matthews William Nylander
Trevor Moore Nazem Kadri Connor Brown
Nic Petan Frederik Gauthier Tyler Ennis
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Morgan Rielly Ron Hainsey
Jake Muzzin Nikita Zaitsev
Martin Marincin Igor Ozhiganov
GOALIES
Frederik Andersen
Garret Sparks
FLYERS GAME DAY LINES
Oskar Lindblom Sean Couturier Claude Giroux
James van Riemsdyk Nolan Patrick Jakub Voracek
Michael Raffl Scott Laughton Travis Konecny
Phil Varone Corban Knight Ryan Hartman
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Ivan Provorov Travis Sanheim
Shayne Gostisbehere Philippe Myers
Robert Hagg Radko Gudas
Goalies
Carter Hart
Brian Elliott
SICK BAY
Toronto: D Jake Gardiner (back), D Travis Dermott (shoulder), RW Kasperi Kapanen (concussion), LW Zach Hyman (illness)
Philadelphia: G Michal Neuvirth (lower body)
SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY
Toronto: 22.9% (7th)
Philadelphia: 17.1% (22nd)
PENALTY KILLING
Toronto: 80.3% (17th)
Philadelphia: 77.9% (26th)
Friday NHL game preview: Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs
By Mark ZwolinskiSports Reporter
Thu., March 14, 2019
SCOTIABANK ARENA
FACEOFF: 7 p.m.
Friday NHL game preview: Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs | The Star
Heading into Thursday’s games, Flyers forward Sean Couturier had 61 points in 55 games since Nov. 1. (Elsa / GETTY IMAGES)
TV: TSN
RADIO: TSN 1050
KEY PLAYERS
Couturier/Johnsson
The Flyers’ Sean Couturier had points in five straight games heading into Thursday night. He led the Flyers in scoring since Nov. 1, with 61 points in 55 games. Leafs rookie Andreas Johnsson has been a strong performer over the past two months, and should at least factor into the Calder Trophy discussion.
NEED TO KNOW
Leafs fans will catch a glimpse of another strong rookie in Philadelphia forward Oskar Lindblom, who has points in three of his last four games and has seen time on the first power-play unit … Jacob Voracek will return to the lineup after serving a two-game suspension … Carter Hart was to start in goal against Washington on Thursday, his first game since Feb. 21 (ankle injury). Hart is 13-8-1 since his debut Dec. 18 … Scott Laughton also has a five-game point streak ... The Flyers had earned 38 points since Jan. 14 through Wednesday’s games, tied for the most over that span. But the road to the end of the season is difficult: Philadelphia plays seven games in 11 days, with six of them against teams currently holding a playoff spot.
UP NEXT
Saturday at Ottawa, 7 p.m.