Flyers vs. McOilers: Game 53, Lines, Notes & How to Watch

The Philadelphia Flyers, coming off an uneven performance in a 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders, will look to get off to a better start when they host Edmonton on Thursday.

In Monday’s loss to the Isles, the Flyers were thoroughly outplayed in a first period in which they fell into a 1-0 hole. They played better the rest of the way, but the tone had been set.

The Flyers (21-22-9) are just 10-13-2 on home ice. Edmonton (29-18-4) is 16-7-1 on the road.

The Oilers, of course, are led by the irrepressible Connor McDavid, who leads the NHL in goals (41) and points (93).

McDavid has points in 13 straight games; he has a 15-game point streak on the road.

While McDavid is thriving, Philadelphia Flyers right winger Travis Konecny is struggling. Since scoring a hat trick against Washington, he has gone 10 straight games without a goal. He leads the Flyers with 24 scores.

Flyers’ expected lineup

Hayes-Laughton-Tippett

JVR-Cates-Konecny

Farabee-Frost-Allison

Deslauriers-Brown-Bellows

Defense

Provorov-York

Sanheim-Ristolainen

Seeler-DeAngelo

Goalie

Hart (15-15-8, 2.86 GAA, .911 SP)

Oilers’ expected lineup

Holloway-McDavid-Hyman

Kane-Draisaitl-Ryan

Kostin-Nugent-Hopkins-Janmark

McLeod-Foegele

Defense

Nurse-Ceci

Kulak-Barrie

Broberg-Bouchard

Desharnais

Goalie

Skinner (13-10-3, 2.92, .914)

Breakaways

The Oilers have been successful going with an elven-forward, seven defensemen lineup. They are 9-1-2 since they started using it. … Edmonton’s league-best power play is clicking at about twice the success rate as the Flyers’. The Oilers have a 31.8% success rate; the Flyers are at 15.8%, which is 30th in the 32-team league. … Edmonton is averaging 3.77 goals per game (first in NHL), and the Flyers are scoring at a 2.75 clip (27th). … Edmonton’s Ryan-Nugent Hopkins (23 goals, 62 points) has 14 points over his last nine games. … Philly’s Tony DeAngelo has five points in the last five games but is minus-5 in that span.

How to watch and listen

TV: 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Philadelphia; radio: 97.5.

How to bet

FanDuel’s moneyline: Oilers are minus-194, Flyers are plus-160.

Pick: Oilers 5, Flyers 3.

E-A-G-L-E-S! Flyers Pumped for Their Sports Neighbors and by City’s Response