The Philadelphia Flyers won their final home game of the 2022-2023 season versus the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-3. Tonight, they’ll wrap up the regular season, playing the finale on the road at the United Center against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Both teams are in the hunt for the ‘Connor Bedard Sweepstakes.’ The Flyers are locked into the seventh best odds at the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft while the Blackhawks have the third best odds. The odds for the Blackhawks could improve with a loss, and an Anaheim Ducks win, tonight.
Earlier this season, the Flyers’ tired effort resulted in a 4-1 loss to the Blackhawks at the Wells Fargo Center.
Chicago Blackhawks (26-49-6)
In their last five games, the Chicago Blackhawks are 2-3-0. They’re being outscored 19-14 during that stretch, most recently defeating (and eliminating) the Pittsburgh Penguins from playoff contention, 5-2.
Andreas Athanasiou (19G, 18A) has six points in his last five games (3G, 3A) and scored the game-winner versus the Penguins. He pounces on rebound opportunities, keeping close to the crease and under the hashmarks. Athanasiou had a couple of chances at scoring earlier this season against the Philadelphia Flyers, but ultimately didn’t contribute on the stat sheet.
Alex Stalock (9-15-1, 2.93GAA, 91%SV) is the probable starting goaltender. The last time he won a start was back on March 16th against the Nashville Predators. He saved 18/21 shots on goal in his most recent start versus the Minnesota Wild, a 4-2 loss. Stalock is undefeated in his career versus the Flyers, most recently defeating them as the netminder for the Wild back in 2019.
Here’s the tentative lineup for the Chicago Blackhawks:
Johnson, Tyler-Toews-Dickinson
Bjork-Athanasiou-Robinson
Katchouk-Entwistle-Anderson
Wagner-Johnson, Reese-Mitchell
Jones, Caleb-Jones, Seth
Kaiser-Murphy
Englund-Zaitsev
Stalock
(Mrazek)
Philadelphia Flyers (30-38-13)
Ending the home schedule with a win felt good for the Philadelphia Flyers. In the last five games, they’re 1-4-0 while being outscored 20-10.
Joel Farabee (15G, 24A) totaled three points (2G, 1A) in his last five games. His shot quality was exceptional versus the Columbus Blue Jackets, putting the Flyers onto the scoreboard. It is a trend that doesn’t quit for Farabee, but he’s hoping to notch a goal this time around against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Scott Laughton (18G, 25A) notched two assists over the last five games. In the home finale, Laughton secured the secondary assist on the three-hundredth career goal by James van Riemsdyk. If not for a quick save on a rebound chance, Laughton would’ve added a goal to his recent point totals. Laughton and Jack Johnson went head-to-head often the last time these two teams met.
Here’s the tentative lineup for the Philadelphia Flyers:
Farabee-Frost-Konecny
Laughton-Hayes-van Riemsdyk
Allison-Cates-Tippett
Deslauriers-Laczynski-Lemieux
Provorov-York
Sanheim-Ristolainen
Seeler-Braun
Hart
(Sandstrom)
Place Your Bets
Philadelphia Flyers moneyline (-115)
Chicago Blackhawks moneyline (-105)
Andreas Athanasiou anytime goal (+215)
Joel Farabee anytime goal (+175)
Game Information
You can watch the Philadelphia Flyers complete the 2022-2023 regular season against the Chicago Blackhawks on NBC Sports Philadelphia. The broadcast is available on 97.5 The Fanatic and Flyers Radio 24/7. The puck drops at 8:30pm.
(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
