Game #12 Preview: Hurricanes vs Flyers

 

Hurricanes (10-1-0) vs Flyers (6-3-2)

Carolina stormed back against the Lightning to win 2-1 in overtime last game. Now they return to PNC for two games before starting a 5-game west coast road trip. They will face the Flyers, who have been up and down to start this season. This matchup is important for both metropolitan teams. As the two are battling for a better position in the best division in the NHL.


Previous Meeting

The previous game between Philadelphia and Carolina was back in the 19-20 shortened season. Carolina lost this game 4-1, and it was one of the last few games played by Carolina before the season was delayed by Covid.


Goaltending bounce-back in Philly

The Flyers' goaltending is what cost them a lot of games last season. This season they have turned that negative into a strength. Carter Hart and Martin Jones(!) have held down the net for the Flyers. Carter Hart has saved 6.1 Goals Above Expected in 8 starts, and Martin Jones has saved 4.9 Goals Above Expected in 3 starts (Via MoneyPuck.com). 


Lack of Discipline
Carolina has taken a ton of penalties to start the season. The aggressive nature of how they forecheck and attack will lead to this, but at the same time, this lack of discipline will haunt Carolina in big moments. Especially come playoff time if they make it there. Carolina needs to clean up the penalties if they want to consider themselves contenders.


Projected Lines 

Svechnikov-Aho-Leivo

Kotkaniemi-Trocheck-Teravainen

Lorentz-Staal-Fast

Martinook-Stepan-Jarvis


Slavin-Bear

Skjei-DeAngelo

Smith-Cole


Andersen

Lyon


Injuries: Niederreiter (Lower Body), Raanta (Upper Body), Necas (Game-Time Decision) (Non-Covid Illness), Pesce (Upper Body) 


What the Analytics Predict

MoneyPuck.com gives Carolina a 64.8% chance of winning tonight


Players to Watch

Seth Jarvis is going to get more ice time tonight with Necas potentially being out with an illness. Jarvis has been an impact player whenever he has stepped on the ice. It will be exciting to see how he does with some top-six ice time tonight. 


Sean Couturier is one of the best two-way players in the league. His elite defense will cause problems for Carolina’s dynamic forwards tonight, and his play-driving will create chances for the Flyers.

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