Flyers Game 63, Can Philly Bounce Back; Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Jets

The Philadelphia Flyers (27-27-8) will host the Winnipeg Jets (42-16-4) for their second meeting in the last three games.

It is not the best time for the Flyers to square up against the league’s top team. The Flyers need to bounce back from a bad loss on Tuesday with the NHL trade deadline just a day away.

The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. EST. at the Wells Fargo Center.

Read More: NHL Trade Deadline Update: Two Laughton Competitors Off the Board

Projected Lines

Forwards

Tyson Foerster – Noah Cates – Bobby Brink

Owen Tippett – Sean Couturier – Matvei Michkov

Andrei Kuzmenko – Scott Laughton – Travis Konecny

Nicolas Deslauriers – Ryan Poehling – Jakob Pelletier

Defensemen

Cam York – Travis Sanheim

Egor Zamula – Rasmus Ristolainen

Nick Seeler – Jamie Drysdale

Goaltender

Sam Ersson

Power Play Units

PP1: Scott Laughton – Matvei Michkov – Travis Konecny – Andrei Kuzmenko – Rasmus Ristolainen

PP2: Noah Cates – Tyson Foerster – Bobby Brink – Owen Tippett – Jamie Drysdale

Penalty Kill Units

PK1: Scott Laughton – Travis Konecny – Cam York – Travis Sanheim

PK2: Noah Cates – Ryan Poehling – Nick Seeler – Rasmus Ristolainen

Read More: PhHN Daily: Flyers Trade Deadline Talk; Emotion on Long Island & More

Bounce Back Game

After a rough outing last time out, the Flyers will look to bounce back Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. Last time the two squads faced off, the Flyers played one of the best defensive games of the season. Philly followed it with one of the worst group efforts of the season.

With Thursday’s game occurring right before the NHL trade deadline, it’s outcome could heavily influence the direction of the remaining season. A win could keep the Flyers in the playoff hunt–though it’d still be a stretch. A loss could separate the Flyers further from the pack, forcing Danny Briere to take advantage of the seller’s market.

For the Flyers, it’s critical to bounce back on Thursday, and show that they can still hang with these top teams and compete for a playoff position. A bounce-back game is crucial for the Flyers’ future.

Read More: Flyers Beat On Home Ice, Fall 6-3 to Flames on Tuesday

Laughton’s Last Game in Orange and Black?

Here we go again..

Thursday’s game could be Scott Laughton’s last game as a Flyer. The trade market at the deadline has been a complete seller’s market. Teams are getting extremely high returns for players that typically would not gain much interest. Laughton has been in trade talks for the past five years, but has remained a Flyer.

Laughton’s market is heating up with the deadline just over 24 hours away. The Flyers do not play another game before the deadline, so if they decide to sell high on Laughton, this could very well be the last time he is seen in orange and black.

Whether you love or hate him on the ice, Laughton has been an impactful Flyer in the locker room and the community. The 12-year veteran has played his entire career in Philadelphia. In 660 games, Laughton has 106 goals and 159 assists for 265 total points as a Flyer. He has been a fantastic penalty killer for the Flyers and a great leader.

Previous Matchups

The Flyers will play the Jets for the second time in their last three game. The season series between the two teams will be played with just three days between games.

The Flyers won the previous game in overtime.

One of the keys to the Jets’ recent success is the elite play of netminder Connor Hellebuyck. However, the Flyers have got the better of him throughout his NHL career. In 10 starts against Philadelphia, he is 3-6-1. When you look at the stats, though, that record may not be his fault. He has a 2.55 goals-allowed average against the Flyers, and a .922 save percentage. The shootout loss marked his fifth straight loss to the Flyers.

Read More: Fedotov’s Big Night Lifts Flyers to 2-1 Shootout Victory Vs. Jets

How to Watch

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia, ESPN+

Radio: 93.3 WMMR

The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Read More: PhHN Daily: Flyers RFA Update; Laughton Notes; Chatter Around the NHL