About the Flyers - 01-19-13
A preview of the Flyers.
When and where: 3 p.m. EST. Wells Fargo Center.
TV: The worst network on earth NBC, RDS.
2011-12 Record: 47-26-9, 103 points. The Flyers finished in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and third place in the Atlantic Division
2011-12 Leading Scorer: Claude Giroux (right), 93 points (28 goals, 65 assists).
Last Game: 3-1 home loss to the Devils in Game 6 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series, May 8, 2012. Ilya Bryzgalov made 27 saves for the Flyers.
Last Game against the Penguins: 5-1 home win in Game 6 of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, April 22, 2012. Marc-Andre Fleury made 18 saves for the Penguins
Flyers Player We Would Bet Money On Scoring: Giroux. You may have heard about him before.
Ex-Penguins on the Flyers: Ruslan Fedotenko, LW; Kevin McCarthy, assistant coach; Joe Mullen, assistant coach; Simon Nolet, scout; Maxime Talbot, C.
Ex-Flyers on the Penguins: None.
Useless Flyers Trivia Vaguely Related to the Penguins: Four Stanley Cup-winning goal scorers have played for each the Penguins and Flyers: Ruslan Fedotenko, Rick MacLeish and Ulf Samuelsson.
Best Flyers Video We Could Find: Flyers first-round pick Scott Laughton being "greeted" to the NHL draft by Penguins fans at Consol Energy Center this past summer:
Probable goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury (42-17-4, 2.36 GAA, .913 SV% in 2011-12) for the Penguins. Ilya Bryzgalov (33-16-7, 2.48 GAA, .909 SV% in 2011-12) for the Flyers.
Injuries: For the Penguins, they are reporting no injuries. For the Flyers, defensemean Andrej Meszaros (Achilles tendon) is probable. Defensemen Chris Pronger (concussion), Matt Walker (back/hip) and center Daniel Briere (wrist) are on injured reserve.
Potential lines and defensive pairings: The Penguins lines and defensive pairings during yesterday's practice were: (PG+)
Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Pascal Dupuis
Eric Tangradi - Evgeni Malkin - James Neal
Matt Cooke - Brandon Sutter - Tyler Kennedy
Tanner Glass - Joe Vitale - Craig Adams
Matt Niskanen - Kris Letang
Brooks Orpik - Paul Martin
Simon Despres - Deryk Engelland
-According to the Philadelphia Daily News, the Flyers are expected to use the following lines and defensive pairings:
Scott Hartnell - Claude Giroux - Brayden Schenn
Maxime Talbot - Sean Couturier - Jakub Voracek
Wayne Simmonds - Scott Laughton - Matt Read
Ruslan Fedoteno - Eric Wellwood - Zac Rinaldo
Braydon Coburn - Nicklas Grossman
Kimmo Timonen - Luke Schenn
Andrej Meszaros - Kurtis Foster
Notes:
-The last time the Penguins played the Flyers, this happened:
-Fleury has 226 career wins. He needs one more to surpass Tom Barrasso for most goaltending wins in franchise history.
-Fleury has 22 career shutouts. He needs one more to surpass Barrasso for most in franchise history.
-Crosby has 609 career points. He needs five more to surpass Ron Francis (613) for fourth-most in franchise history.
-Engelland had 196 career penalty minutes.
-Sidney Crosby. Penalty killer?
-The Penguins want to show off their grit.
-The Penguins lost Brian Strait on waivers to the Islanders. (PG+)
-"It's not like its Tuesday night in Columbus." - Talbot on the energy expected for today's game.
-This will be the Penguins' seventh season-opening game against the Flyers, the most against anyone opponent.
-Our live blog, direct from the worst place on earth Philadelphia, begins at approximately 2 p.m. Please tune in.
(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)