The narrative remains the same. In the race for third place in the NHL Metropolitan Division, the Philadelphia Flyers (36-28-10) keep a narrow, one-point lead on the Washington Capitals and have a two-point advantage on the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL Wildcard race.
A frustrating loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday didn’t do any favors for a postseason push. The Flyers went from competing and playing outstanding hockey against NHL Eastern Conference contenders to playing down to those eliminated from playoff contention. Tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks (21-47-5) fall into the latter category.
“[In] the Montreal game, I don’t think we were flat. I just don’t think we were dead on. We only give up ten scoring chances in the game. I think as a team we’ve really tightened down as far as scoring chances against. I just don’t think we made many plays. I don’t think we were terrible, but I just don’t think we were sharp with the puck in the first half of that game. We started playing better toward late in the second period, then the third. I didn’t mention anything to them before the Montreal game. I won’t mention anything tonight. They know where they’re at.”
John Tortorella; 3/30/2024
Philadelphia won the most recent clash in February against the Blackhawks, 3-1, at the United Center.
Chicago Blackhawks
In their last five games, Chicago is 2-3-0. Luke Richardson expects an aggressive opponent at the opening faceoff at the Wells Fargo Center, setting his lineup in preparation. On Thursday, the Blackhawks were shut out by the Ottawa Senators, 2-0.
Tyler Johnson only contributed to the stat sheet against the San Jose Sharks (1G, 1A) over the last five games. He took one snapshot on goal, which was considered a high-danger scoring chance, against the Senators, but lost every faceoff draw. Earlier this season versus the Flyers, Johnson took five shots on goal, generating the most chances in the offensive zone for Chicago. Despite his best efforts, Johnson still didn’t break through on the stat sheet.
Here’s the tentative lineup for the Chicago Blackhawks:
Donato-Bedard-Kurashev
Foligno-Johnson-Raddysh
Reichel-Athanasiou-Entwistle
Slaggert-Dickinson-Anderson
Vlasic-Jones
Korchinski-Megna
Kaiser-Tinordi
Soderblom
(Mrazek)
Philadelphia Flyers
Nick Seeler returns to the lineup and will pair with Erik Johnson. Sam Ersson will start with Ivan Fedotov officially serving as the backup goaltender.
Scott Laughton totaled four points (2G, 2A) in his last five games. If he isn’t contributing to the scoreboard, then Laughton is drawing penalties to provide more repetitions for the last-ranked powerplay in the NHL. He was the most active skater for Philadelphia at the faceoff dot against the Canadiens. Laughton notched the primary assist on a Travis Sanheim goal earlier this season against the Blackhawks.
Here’s the tentative lineup for the Philadelphia Flyers, per Jackie Spiegel:
Tippett-Frost-Konecny
Foerster-Poehling-Hathaway
Farabee-Laughton-Brink
Cates-Couturier-Gurianov
York-Sanheim
Seeler-Johnson
Zamula-Ginning
Ersson
(Fedotov)
Place Your Bets (via Draft Kings Sportsbook)
Chicago Blackhawks (+210)
Philadelphia Flyers (-258)
Tyler Johnson under .5pt (-180)
Scott Laughton over .5pt (-120)
Scott Laughton anytime goal (+265)
Game Information
Watch the Philadelphia Flyers host the Chicago Blackhawks on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Listen to the radio broadcast on 97.5 The Fanatic. The puck drops at 7pm.
(Photo by Rob Curtis/Icon Sportswire)
