Flyers at Vegas: How to Watch, Prediction, Morgan Frost’s Plight

The Philadelphia Flyers will try to continue their successful run against strong Western Conference opponents when they play Tuesday night in Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

The Golden Knights are the defending Stanley Cup champions and own a 6-0 record, so getting a win — or even a point — would be a major accomplishment for the Orange and Black.

In their last three games, the Flyers (3-1-1) have defeated Vancouver and Edmonton, and then outplayed Dallas but dropped a 5-4 overtime decision.

Carter Hart, who sat out the last game, will return to the nets for the Flyers. He is off to a strong start — a 3-1 record with a 2.01 GAA and .929 save percentage.

“I feel good,” Hart said. “Our team is looking great. Guys are buying in and working hard and playing hard and doing the little things right.  It’s fun to watch.”

PHN: Flyers’ Top Prospects Keep Getting Better, Headed by Matvei Michkov

Based on comments coach John Tortorella made to reporters, it seems center Morgan Frost will be a healthy scratch for the fourth consecutive game.

That’s the same Morgan Frost who scored 19 goals in a breakthrough season last year and led the Philadelphia Flyers in scoring (40 points) over the last 55 games. He signed a two-year contract in September that has an annual cap hit of $2.1 million.

“I know I need to get him in,” Tortorella said on Monday “I want to get him in. I just have not seen an opening for him right now. I’m not going to put Frosty into a checking role or play him on the fourth line. If I put him back in, it’s going to be in an offensive situation.”

The Philadelphia Flyers are 2-0-1 since Frost was taken out of the lineup. Scott Laughton moved from left wing to Frost’s center spot.

This is how the Flyers’ lines are expected to look on Tuesday:

Sean Couturier centering Owen Tippett and Cam Atkinson.

Laughton centering Travis Konecny and Tyson Foerster.

Noah Cates centering Joel Farabee and Bobby Brink.

Ryan Poehling centering Nic Deslauriers and Garnet Hathaway.

The Flyers are expected to have just six of the same forwards in the lineup compared to last year’s 2-1 overtime loss in Vegas on Dec. 9. In that game, Hart stopped 32 of 34 shots as the Flyers managed a point.

They would gladly take a similar result.

How to watch

The 11 p.m. contest is on ESPN and ESPN+. By the time it starts, the Phillies-Diamondbacks Game 7 should be close to ending.

Prediction

Vegas 4, Flyers 2.

Breakaways

Konecny has seven points (5-2), matching his best five-game start of his career. … Chandler Stephenson (seven points) paces Vegas, while Jack Eichel, defenseman Shea Theodore, Mark Stone and William Karlsson have six points apiece. … Vegas, which has the best six-game start of any reigning Stanley Cup champ, can become the 16th team in NHL history to start a season 7-0 or better. … Hart has a 2.73 GAA and .931 save percentage in four career games against the Golden Knights. … Couturier tonight will tie Jake Voracek for the 10-th most games (726) played in the Flyers’ history. … The Flyers are 5-4-1 in the all-time series against the Golden Knights.