Flyers vs. Maple Leafs, Game 34: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

The Philadelphia Flyers (11-5-7) will finish out their final two games on the road before the holiday break. It starts Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs (20-7-6) at 2 p.m.

The Flyers will try to get that elusive second win in a row. They have failed to do so in the last three opportunities after they won the first game. The last time they won two straight was Nov. 5 and Nov. 8.

They’ll have to stop Toronto’s firepower in order to do so. The Maple Leafs are coming off a 4-1 victory over the Lightning. Toronto got goals from four different players, and William Nylander collected two points.

The Flyers used their youth to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett scored twice for Philadelphia in the 5-3 victory.

“That’s the effort we’re looking for. I thought it was good,” Konecny said after the victory. “We got a lead, we went down, battled back. And then we closed it out. I thought it was a really good effort from everybody.”

PHN+:Flyers’ John Tortorella Gets Props for Developing Youth

This will be the second matchup between the two sides. Toronto cruised to a 5-2 victory against the Flyers on Nov. 2. John Tavares had a hat trick and four points.

Felix Sandstrom, who won’t make the trip due to an illness, made 39 saves in the loss. Samuel Ersson has been recalled and has the potential to make his NHL debut on the trip. The Flyers play in Carolina on Friday.

Toronto has plenty of weapons that can beat a team. The Leafs’ top four scorers are lethal and have 30-plus points apiece. Ilya Samsonov has been tough to beat in net as well. He lost his first game Dec. 17 after a five-game win streak, including a victory against the Flyers.

Expected Philadelphia Flyers lines, per PuckPedia.com

van Riemsdyk – Frost – Tippett

Farabee – Cates – Konecny

Hayes – Laughton – MacEwen

Deslauriers – Brown – Allison

Defense:

Provorov – Ristolainen

Sanheim – DeAngelo

York – Braun

Goalie:

Carter Hart

Expected Toronto Maple Leafs lines

Bunting – Matthews – Nylander

Jarnkrok – Tavares – Marner

Kerfoot – Kampf – Engvall

Aston-Reese – Holmberg – Anderson

Defense:

Giordano – Holl

Benn – Liljegren

Brodie – Timmins

Goalie:

Ilya Samsonov

Special Teams:

Flyers Power Play: 15.3%, 29th

Flyers Penalty Kill: 75.5%, 23rd

Leafs Power Play: 23.8%, 12th

Leafs Penalty Kill: 79.8%, 15th

Breakaways

Nylander has eight points in his last five games. He has 36 points (19-17) in 33 games this season. … Samsonov (9-3-0) has a 1.98 GAA and a .929 save percentage. … Hart (10-9-6) has a 2.82 GAA and a .912 save percentage.  … This will be his fourth straight start.

The Flyers are 2-2-1 in the first game of a back-to-back this season. They have a 2-3-1 record on the road against the Atlantic Division.

Philly has earned a point in seven of its last 11 road games, but boast just a 2-4-5 record in those games.

The game against Toronto opens up a stretch of five consecutive road games for the Philadelphia Flyers. Nine of the next 11 games will be away from home.

How to Watch Flyers Game: