Columbus Blue Jackets (47-19-7) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (34-31-8)
SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017, 2 p.m. (NATIONWIDE ARENA)
0.4 percent.
According to hockey-reference.com, those are the Flyers' chances of qualifying for postseason play as Philadelphia sits six points back from the final playoff spot currently shared by Boston and the Islanders.
In other words, it looks like it'll be a playoff-less season in Philadelphia, though the Flyers aren't quite accepting of that fate with nine games to play.
"We're focusing on our game and we'll go from there," captain Claude Giroux said.
What it does mean is that Columbus will face a desperate team in Nationwide Arena, one that knows a loss would likely deal a fatal blow to its playoff hopes.
Columbus, of course, has plenty to play for itself. With Pittsburgh falling to the Islanders on Friday night, Columbus can tie the Penguins with a win and move within a single point of Washington.
The Jackets seem likely in the game to face a familiar face. Former CBJ goalie Steve Mason has started seven straight games, and he earned his 100th win as a Flyer in the team's Thursday victory against Minnesota.
You Oughta Know: Ivan Provorov
In an alternate universe, Provorov could have been a Blue Jacket. Columbus, however, never had a chance to draft the young defenseman as he went off the board seventh overall in the 2015 draft, one spot before the Blue Jackets drafted. Instead, the Jackets drafted Zach Werenski. It's fair to say the two teams are pretty happy with their choices. While Werenski has turned in a Calder Trophy-type season in Columbus, Provorov has acquitted himself well, playing in 16 games this season of 24 or more minutes. While he's minus-10 on the year, Provorov has six goals and 22 assists and turned 20 in January.
[Fire Emoji] Right Now
- Sean Couturier has recorded three goals and seven assists for nine points in his last 10 games. The nine game stretch started one game after the Flyers acquired Valtteri Filppula from Tampa Bay.
- Claude Giroux has recorded two goals and six assists for eight points in his last nine games, including two assists Tuesday in Winnipeg. Giroux had a six game scoring streak from March 7-16.
- Dale Weise has two goals and two assists in the last four games.
Five Fast Facts
- Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds share the league lead in power play goals with 15 apiece.
- Over the past nine games, the Flyers are 3-for-35 (8.6 pct) on the power play and are 20-for-30 (66.7 pct) on the penalty kill.
- Injuries: Forward Michael Raffl (lower body) has been out since late February while forward Nick Cousins has missed four straight games with an upper-body injury.
- Since Dec. 15, when the team's 10-game win streak ended, the Flyers have scored 83 goals over 41 games, which is second-fewest in the league in that timeframe only to Colorado.
- Former Jackets: Despite all the trades between the organizations over the years, the only two former Columbus players on the Jackets are Mason (second-round pick, in Columbus from 2009-13) and Voracek (three seasons with the CBJ). In addition current AHL goaltender Anthony Stolarz has played in four games this year; he was one of the draft picks Philadelphia acquired for Sergei Bobrovsky.
Previous Matchups
March 13: Columbus 5, Philadelphia 3
January 8: Columbus 2, Philadelphia 1 (OT).
ALL TIME SERIES: Columbus leads leads 14-9-3
Keys to the Game
Special Teams: The Flyers have been dreadful (see above) on special teams of late. Columbus' penalty kill was a key factor in the shootout loss vs. Washington but the CBJ power play's struggles of late are noted. Can the team get healthy here?
Attack Mason: Last time against the Flyers in this spot, we mentioned going high glove. Do that again.
Defend the home: Columbus is 26-10-1 at home on the season while the Flyers are 13-20-4 away from the City of Brotherly Love. Enough said.
Flyers Projected Lineup
| # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | Jakub Voracek | 73 GP, 18-38-56 | 28 | Claude Giroux | 73 GP, 14-39-53 | 24 | Matt Read | 59 GP, 10-8-18 |
| 40 | Jordan Weal | 15 GP, 4-1-5 | 51 | Valtteri Filppula | 70 GP, 8-29-37, -5 | 17 | Wayne Simmonds | 73 GP, 29-20-49 |
| 10 | Brayden Schenn | 70 GP, 22-26-48 | 14 | Sean Couturier | 57 GP, 12-15-27 | 22 | Dale Wiese | 55 GP, 4-5-9 |
| 11 | Travis Konecny | 61 GP, 11-16-27 | 78 | Pierre-Edouard Bellemare | 73 GP, 3-4-7 | 76 | Chris VandeVelde | 73 GP, 6-6-12 |
| # | Player | Stats | # | Player | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | Andrew MacDonald | 64 GP, 2-14-16, -9 | 9 | Ivan Provorov | 73 GP, 6-22-28, -10 |
| 55 | Nick Schultz | 23 GP, 0-4-4, 0 | 53 | Shayne Gostisbehere | 67 GP, 6-25-31, -24 |
| 23 | Brandon Manning | 58 GP, 3-7-10, -14 | 3 | Radko Gudas | 62 GP, 4-16-20, +4 |
| # | Player | GP | W-L-OTL | GAA | SV% | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Steve Mason | 53 | 22-21-7 | 2.73 | .906 | 3 |
| 30 | Michal Neuvirth | 26 | 10-10-1 | 2.91 | .887 | 0 |
10 Stats to Know
Impress your friends and enemies alike with these 10 key Philadelphia Flyers stats.
| Last 10 | Standings | PP% | PK% | CF60 (5x5) | CA60 (5x5 | PDO | OT (SHO) | FO% | 5x5 GF-GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4–5–1 | 7th, Metro | 19.5 (14) | 79.5 (22) | 59.00 | 56.18 | 97.79 (28) | 13-8 (6-4) | 51.9 (6) | 111-142 |
