Despite the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tonight in an NFC Wildcard matchup, the Philadelphia Flyers (23-14-6) are the hottest ticket.
After blanking the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night, 2-0, the Flyers will face off against the St. Louis Blues (21-18-2) for the first time this season.
Like Saturday, the Flyers will be without Sean Couturier (undisclosed) and Jamie Drysdale (illness). Drawing back into the lineup is Noah Cates, who was out of the lineup since November 25th with a broken foot. Carter Hart will start.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues are 3-1-1 in their last five games. On Saturday, they fell in overtime, 4-3, to the Boston Bruins.
It hasn’t been the calmest of seasons in St. Louis. After a shaky start to the year, Craig Berube was fired as head coach on December 14th and replaced by Drew Bannister on an interim basis. Right now, the Blues sit in fifth in the NHL Central Divison with 44 points.
Kevin Hayes and Brayden Schenn will battle their former team tonight. This will be the first meeting between the Flyers and Hayes after he was traded last summer. Regarding Schenn, he was named the 24th captain of the Blues on September 19th. In nine games against the Flyers, Schenn has six points (3G, 3A).
“I just feel like as a hockey player, as an athlete, you put your head down and keep on working. You always want more, and I’m very fortunate and lucky to be playing in this league as long as I have. I still feel like I have a ton left in the tank. It’s funny how it falls like that. I’ve got great opportunities along the way from coaches and organizations, Flyers and Blues. I’m just trying to make the most of it. I’ve been very fortunate and lucky to play on a lot of good teams as well.”
Brayden Schenn; 1/15/2024
Here’s the projected lineup for the St. Louis Blues:
Buchnevich-Thomas-Kyrou
Neighbours-Schenn-Kapanen
Toropchenko-Hayes-Saad
Walker-Sundqvist-Blais
Leddy-Parayko
Krug-Faulk
Kessel-Perunovich
Hofer
(Binnigton)
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers will be looking for their fourth consecutive win tonight. John Tortorella said after Saturday’s win that he isn’t a big statement win or a test person, but it felt like a statement win after shutting out one of the NHL’s best teams this year.
“I’m not a big statement win and a test, all that stuff. It’s a good solid win in a back-to-back situation; we get ready for St. Louis and just want to keep playing the best way we can.”
John Tortorella; 1/13/2024
Cates drawing back into the lineup gives the Flyers more depth and intensifies the checking. It will certainly take him a bit to get his legs back underneath him, but the two-way awareness Cates possesses will give the Flyers an edge in their bottom six.
“It feels like a long couple months and I’ve never really gone through something like that. I’m really chomping at the bit to get back; just playing with the guys and being back around them. A great opportunity tonight and I’m really, really ready to go.”
Noah Cates; 1/15/2024
The Flyers’ powerplay has been coming together as of late. With goals in five consecutive games on the man advantage, clear improvements are being made. The Blues currently have the 22nd-ranked penalty kill in the league. If given the opportunity tonight, the Flyers can take full advantage of a struggling Blues special teams unit.
Here is the projected lineup for the Philadelphia Flyers, per Brandon Somermann:
Tippett-Frost-Konecny
Foerster-Laughton-Hathaway
Farabee-Poehling-Atkinson
Deslauriers-Cates-Brink
York-Sanheim
Seeler-Walker
Zamula-Ristolainen
Hart
(Ersson)
Place Your Bets (via DraftKings)
Philadelphia Flyers (-105)
St. Louis Blues (-115)
Carter Hart over 26.5 saves (-115)
Brayden Schenn anytime goal (+310)
Game Information
You can watch the Philadelphia Flyers visit the St. Louis Blues on NBC Sports Philadelphia and listen to the radio broadcast on 97.5 the Fanatic and Flyers Radio 24/7. The puck drops at 8pm from the Enterprise Center.
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
