The Philadelphia Flyers (40-27-12) are back in yet another must-win game on Saturday when they take on the Winnipeg Jets (35-31-12) at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Philadelphia had the chance to go on its first 4-game winning streak in over two years, but instead was handed a disastrous loss vs. the Red Wings the last time out. That makes them 3-2 over the 5 games in a critical stretch, and 6-4-0 over the last 10 games.
The Jets have turned it on at the right moment of the season for them. They are on a 3-game winning streak and have fought themselves into a position where the playoffs are not far out of reach. The Jets are 4-1-0 over the last 5 games, and 7-2-1 over the last 10.
It will be a difficult matchup for the Flyers, who need a win desperately on Saturday to have a chance to clinch a postseason spot before the season finale.
Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. EST at Canada Life Centre. Here is how the Flyers are expected to line up.
Read More: Special Teams Took Over in Flyers Disastrous Loss vs. Red Wings
Tyson Foerster–Trevor Zegras–Owen TippettTravis Konecny–Christian Dvorak–Porter MartoneAlex Bump–Noah Cates–Matvei MichkovDenver Barkey–Sean Couturier–Luke Glendening
Travis Sanheim–Rasmus RistolainenCam York–Jamie DrysdaleNick Seeler–Emil Andrae
Special TeamsPP1: Drysdale, Cates, Zegras, Foerster, MartonePP2: York, Dvorak, Tippett, Konecny, Michkov
PK1: Cates, Couturier, York, SanheimPK 2: Dvorak, Tippett, Seeler, Ristolainen
Read More: Flyers Postgame Blog: Special Teams Struggles; No Answer for Red Wings’ Stars
The Flyers practiced in Detroit on Friday ahead of their travel to Winnipeg for Saturday’s game. At the practice, the Flyers deployed the same lines as they did on Thursday in Detroit. For the time being, that means the lineup will remain the same. However, that could always change by gametime.
Dan Vladar did not have his A game on Thursday. He was yanked after allowing 4 goals in 25 minutes, though it very well could have been a momentum move. Still, that meant that Sam Ersson got the bulk of the work on Thursday. With that in mind, I’d expect Vladar to be back in goal. It’s a redemption game for him.
Part of the reason for the big loss was that the Red Wings’ stars showed up to play; the Flyers’ did not. Guys like Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny willed the Flyers into the fight and into a playoff position. In a game that was a big deal, they looked non-existent. Among a handful of other Flyers that need to be better in this final stretch, look for Tippett and Konecny to have bounce-back games.
The Jets are not a team to look past. At 82 points, they could put themselves in a playoff position with a win against the Flyers on Satuday. They sit just two points back of the Nashville Predators, and the Jets could jump them with a win and a Nashville loss. Winnipeg is a team with lots to play for.
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia, ESPN+ (Stream)Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. EST at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Read More: Flyers Magic Number is Now 6; Updated Look at the Playoff Race & Where Things Stand
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