The Philadelphia Flyers are back in action this afternoon in hopes of avenging a disappointing defeat last time out. Can they get back on track against the Senators?
Flyers vs Senators betting info
Spread: Flyers -1.5 (+164) | Senators -1.5 (-198)
Moneyline: Flyers -142 | Senators +120
Total: O/U 6.5
What went wrong vs the Avalanche?
The Philadelphia Flyers (25-15-6) saw their win streak come to an end on Saturday after suffering a 7-4 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche. Despite playing from behind for the entirety of the contest, the Flyers kept themselves in the game.
Avalanche center Nathan McKinnon skated circles around the Flyers as he notched four points (2G, 2A) on Saturday. Cam Atkinson spoke about playing against a talent such as McKinnon:
“You can try to get in front of him and try to get your speed with him, but ultimately those players are generational talent. There’s only so much you can do.”
Cam Atkinson 1/20/2024
In the midst of Saturday’s game, Carter Hart was pulled after the second period. Sam Ersson played the third period and will get the start in today’s matinee. In addition, Flyers’ forward Owen Tippett left Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury. As of now the team has not disclosed the nature of the injury.
The team will look to begin a new win streak against the Ottawa Senators (16-24-1) who currently sit last in the Atlantic Division.
Ottawa Senators
Claude Giroux returns to Philadelphia as a member of the Senators. On the season the former Flyers’ captain has 38 points in 41 games played. In four games played against his old team, Giroux has recorded two goals and five assists.
The Senators are scuffling this season and enter today’s game 3-6-1 in their last ten contests. Like the Flyers, they are playing the second game of a back-to-back on Sunday. Despite their struggles, the Senators took the Winnipeg Jets to overtime but lost 2-1. Ottawa defenseman Thomas Chabot spoke about his team’s performance in Saturday’s loss:
“I think it was a good 60 minutes. We have been talking all week about playing a good 60 minutes, but it hurts all of us to not get the win there in overtime.”
Thomas Chabot 1/20/2024
On Friday, the Senators signed Shane Pinto to a 1-year prorated deal as the end of his suspension was in sight. The 23-year-old forward is eligible to return to action today against the Flyers. Pinto was suspended for violating the NHL’s wagering policy. He is likely to enter Jaques Martin’s lineup on Sunday.
Here is the tentative lineup for the Senators:
Tkachuk-Greig-Giroux
Joseph-Stützle-Batherson
Kelly-Norris-Tarasenko
Kubalik-Pinto-Chartier
Sanderson-Zub
Chabot-Bernard-Docker
Chychrun-Brannstrom
Sogaard
(Korpisalo)
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers battled in their loss to the Avalanche on Saturday. They were down by three goals when the third period began. After a tip-in goal from Atkinson, they found themselves down by just one, until the Avalanche piled on three more goals — one being an empty netter. Morgan Frost spoke about his team’s resilience after the loss:
“We felt like we were going to come back that whole third period. I think we made a good push and just got a little unlucky there.”
Morgan Frost 1/20/2024
Something interesting to watch for will be Tippett’s availability in Sunday’s matinee. The Flyers may play without their top shot producer. If Tippett does not play, Bobby Brink may be reinserted into the John Tortorella’s lineup. Brink has not played since January 15th in St. Louis. If Tippett does appear on the ice, then Brink could see another game as a healthy scratch.
The Flyers will want to walk away from today’s game with two points. They have played better than Ottawa and the records are evidence of that. Getting the win today would prove valuable as the Flyers will have to face some tough competition in the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins before the All-Star break.
Here are the tentative lines for the Flyers:
Foerster-Couturier-Konecny
Farabee-Frost-Atkinson
Cates-Laughton-Hathaway
Poehling-Deslauriers
Sanheim-Drysdale
Seeler-Walker
York-Ristolainen
Zamula
Ersson
(Hart)
Place Your Bets (via BetRivers)
Philadelphia Flyers (-142)
Ottawa Senators (+120)
Claude Giroux over .5pts (-140)
Sean Couturier anytime goal (+175)
Game Information
Sunday’s matinee begins at 1pm at the Wells Fargo Center. Watch the Flyers and Senators on NBC Sports Philadelphia or listen to the action on 97.5 the Fanatic.
(AP Photo/John Froschauer)
