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Rick Tocchet’s Philadelphia Flyers (22-14-8) are in New York State on Wednesday to wrap up their season series with Lindy Ruff’s Buffalo Sabres (24-16-4). The teams split their first two meetings of the season.
The Flyers are in the midst of a grueling stretch of games: four in less than six nights including a back-to-back road set in Buffalo and Pittsburgh. The Flyers enter this game coming off a pair of lopsided home losses (7-2 and 5-1) to the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the latter game, an unassisted goal by Christian Dvorak stood as the lone Philadelphia tally.
Initially, the Flyers were slated to have an off-day on Tuesday. Ultimately, they convened an optional practice before leaving for Buffalo. The team also made a roster move, loaning defenseman Adam Ginning back to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Through the season’s first 29 games, the Sabres were in the Eastern Conference cellar. After a front-office shakeup, the team has won 13 of its last 15 games. However, the Sabres enter this game coming off a 4-3 home loss to the Florida Panthers.
Where to watch
Time and broadcast: 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Listen online: FlyersRadio 24/7
RAV4 keys to the game for Philadelphia: click here
In-game watch party (Maher Media): click here
Leading scorers: Flyers (through 44 games)
Trevor Zegras — 41 points (17g, 24a)
Travis Konecny — 38 points (14g, 24a)
Christian Dvorak — 29 points (10g, 19a)
Owen Tippett — 26 points (14g, 12a)
Noah Cates — 24 points (10g, 14a)
Sean Couturier — 24 points (5g, 19a)
Matvei Michkov — 23 points (9g, 14a)
Bobby Brink — 20 points (11g, 9a)
Travis Sanheim — 19 points (5, 14a)
Cam York — 18 points (3g, 15a) in 36 games
Jamie Drysdale — 18 points (3g, 15a)
Goaltender stats
Dan Vladar — 27 GP, 16-7-4, 2.42 GAA, .907 SV%
Samuel Ersson — 16 GP, 6-6-4, 3.33 GAA, .858 SV%
Injury report: Flyers
- Tyson Foerster (right arm surgery) is likely out for the rest of the season. He has a five-month estimated timetable from December.
- Jamie Drysdale (suspected concussion) is eligible to exit IR on Wednesday. Signs point toward a return in Buffalo.
- Bobby Brink (upper body) missed the last three games but practiced in full on Sunday and Tuesday.
Projected Flyers Lineup
The Flyers held an optional practice on Tuesday. The statuses of Drysdale and Brink will determine the starting lineup in Buffalo. The lineup below reflects Monday’s starting lineup against Tampa Bay. One exception: Drysdale appears ready to return. Brink’s situation is less clear prior to the morning skate.
Matvei Michkov – Christian Dvorak – Trevor Zegras
Denver Barkey – Sean Couturier – Owen Tippett
Nikita Grebenkin – Noah Cates – Carl Grundstrom
Nicolas Deslauriers – Rodrigo Abols – Garnet Hathaway
Cam York – Travis Sanheim
Emil Andrae — Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler – Rasmus Ristolainen
Samuel Ersson
[Dan Vladar]
Questionable: Bobby Brink (upper body), Jamie Drysdale (upper body)
Potential healthy scratches: Nicolas Deslauriers, Noah Juulsen
Flyers Opponent: Buffalo Sabres
Leading scorers (through 44 games)
Tage Thompson — 42 points (22g, 20a)
Alex Tuch — 37 points (15g, 22a)
John Doan — 30 points (14g, 26a)
Rasmus Dahlin — 30 points (4g, 26a)
Ryan McLeod — 27 points (9g, 18a)
Bowen Byram — 25 points (10g, 15a)
Jack Quinn — 24 points (9g, 15a)
Mattias Samuelsson — 22 points (7g, 15a)
Jason Zucker — 20 points (10g, 10a) in 25 games
Zach Benson — 20 points (5g, 15a) in 35 games
Goaltender stats
Alex Lyon — 21 GP, 10-6-3 2.82 GAA, .906 SV%
Ukko-Pekka Luukonen — 16 GP, 9-6-1, 2.63 GAA, .904 SV%
Colten Ellis — 10 GP, 5-4-0, 3.11 GAA, .900 SV%
Injury report: Sabres
- Former Flyers goalie Alex Lyon (lower body) in on IR.
- Conor Timmins (broken leg) is on IR. The player suffered the injury the last time the Sabres played the Flyers.
- Michael Kesselring (ankle) is on OR. He resumed skating but is unlikely to be ready for this game.
- Jiri Kulich (blood clot) is on IR.
- Justin Danforth (lower body) is on IR.
- Tyson Kozak (upper body) is out.
Projected lineup: Sabres
Payton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Josh Doan
Jason Zucker – Josh Norris – Alex Tuch
Zach Benson – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn
Jordan Greenway – Josh Dunne – Beck Malenstyn
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Byram Bowen – Owen Power
Jacon Bryson – Zach Metsa
Ukko-Pekka Luukonen
Colten Ellis
Flyers Post-practice media (Rick Tocchet, Jan. 13)
Flyers Daily: Sabres preview
Jason Myrtetus looks at Wednesday night’s matchup in Buffalo. He also discusses why he’s mildly concerned — but not panicked In the big picture — about Matvei Michkov’s regression in the player’s second NHL season.
Let’s Go Flyers