Flyers Game
Flyers Game 6, What’s Kraken?; Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Seattle
The Philadelphia Flyers (2-2-1) are back in action Monday night when they host the Seattle Kraken (3-0-2) as they conlcude their four-game homestand.
Philadelphia is coming off a 2-1 overtime win against he Minnesota Wild on Saturday, with Noah Cates playing hero, scoring the game-winner against his hometown team. Seattle, who has yet to lose in regulation, is coming fresh off an OT win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Jared McCann, who is out Monday night, leads the Kraken with with three goals this season, while defenseman Vince Dunn leads the team in points with five. Sean Couturier still leads Philly in points with five. Trevor Zegras and Travis Sanheim each share the lead for assists with four. Owen Tippett’s three goals are enough for the team lead through five games.
Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Based on Monday’s practice, here’s how the Flyers are expected to line up on Monday.
Read More: 3 Flyers Takeaways: Slow Starts; Tippett Groving; Vladar Shines
Flyers Lines & Pairs vs. Kraken
Forwards
Travis Konecny – Sean Couturier – Owen Tippett
Tyson Foerster – Noah Cates – Bobby Brink
Trevor Zegras – Christian Dvorak – Matvei Michkov
Nikita Grebenkin – Jett Luchanko – Garnet Hathaway
Defensemen
Cam York – Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler – Jamie Drysdale
Egor Zamula – Noah Juulsen
Goaltenders
Dan Vladar
Sam Ersson
Special Teams
PP1: Drysdale, Couturier, Michkov, Tippett, Konecny
PP2: York, Cates, Zegras, Foerster, Brink
PK1: Cates, Foerster, Seeler, Sanheim
PK 2: Dvorak, Hathaway, Ginning, Juulsen
Things to Watch for the Flyers
Dan Vladar is the first of the Flyers’ goaltenders to get consecutive starts this season. Through the first five games, it has been an even split between him and Sam Ersson. Based on the pattern, Ersson was up next, but Vladar has played himself into consecutive starts for the first time this season.
It’s worth noting that Rick Tocchet has said that this does not mean Vladar is moving toward being the No. 1. It’s just sticking with the hot hand, seeing what Vladar can do with back to back starts.
Jett Luchanko and NIkita Grebenkin draw back into the lineup on Monday as well. Both young players did not have their best stuff on Thursday against Winnipeg, proceeded by a night off against Minnesota. Now, they’re back in the lineup. Tocchet said with young players, you don’t want them sitting long.
Lastly, I would keep an eye on Matvei Michkov, who has certainly not gotten out to the start he and his fans were hoping for. Based on Monday’s practice, it looks like Michkov and Owen Tippett have flipped places in the lineup.
Tippett, of course, has been one of the best players for the Flyers to start the season. He earned a promotion to the top line. However, it was the perfect opprotunity, allowing he and Michkov to flip spots. Playing along side Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak could be the perfect opportunity for Michkov to get going this season.
Previous Matchups
The Flyers went winless against the Kraken in their season series last year. Seattle hosted the early season matchup, where they came away with the 6-4 win over Philadelphia. Former Flyer Scott Laughton had himself a game in that matchup, tallying two early-game scores, as well as an assist later on. The other Flyers’ goals came from Cam York and Jamie Drysdale about two minutes apart in the third period.
Jared McCann, who is out on Monday with a lower body injury, led that game with three points for the Kraken, tallying a goal and two assists.
The second matchup was not as close. Owen Tippett scored a first period goal for the Flyers, but it was all Kraken after that. Brandon Montour, who also scored in the first game, scored again in the second meeting, leading Seattle with two goals against the Flyers last season. Among active Flyers, Michkov and Garnet Hathaway led the Flyers with two points each against the Kraken, noth points being assists.
How to Watch Flyers vs. Kraken
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia, ESPN+ (Out of Market)
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
The puck drops at Xfinity Mobile Arena at 7:00 p.m. EST.
Read More: PhHN Daily: Flyers Win; Rat King Returns; Trouble in Toronto?
Glad Luchanko and Grebenkin are back in. Hopefully they get some decent minutes and settle in.
I don’t think it’s fair to have being sent back to juniors hanging over Luchanko because of a lack of scoring, particularly when our “stars” aren’t producing either. Luchanko belongs up here, and he’ll learn much more here than with another year in the juniors.
Also think it’s good for Vladar to be playing again. He’s played well, and the team seems to play better around him