The Flyers Acquire Ryan Ellis from Predators

The Philadelphia Flyers and General Manager Chuck Fletcher knew the team was looking for a top pair, right-handed defenseman to fill the void left by Matt Niskanen. Alain Vigneault tried multiple partners for Ivan Provorov last season, but no matter his partner, it just didn't seem to work.

The team was linked to Seth Jones early in the offseason, but those talks fizzled out when the two sides couldn't agree on a new contract. Jones has one season left on his contract, and Fletcher wasn't trading the farm without a longer-term commitment from the defenseman. With the roster freeze going into effect at 3 p.m. on July 17, 2021, it was looking like Fletcher would stand pat, but that didn't happen.

The Flyers acquired defenseman Ryan Ellis from the Nashville Predators for center Nolan Patrick and defenseman Philippe Myers. Patrick was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights for Cody Glass. It may have taken a three-team trade, but Fletcher finally got his man, whom the Flyers were linked to last season. Ellis will play with Provorov on the team's top pair and be the perfect replacement for the loss of Niskanen.

In getting the 30-year-old defenseman, the Flyers get a legitimate top guy and a ton of leadership for the blue line, which lacked last season. Ellis is good at making the first pass out of the defensive zone, which should help the Flyers to spend less time defending. If they defend less in their zone, it could lead to less scoring chances again and less goals against. Ellis can play on the power play since he has a decent shot from the point.

Ellis is a solid all-around defenseman and should help the Flyers improve on the defensive side of the puck. He played on the penalty kill for the Predators and should help improve the team in an area that was a weakness last season. The 30-year-old had his struggles the past two seasons, but if Fletcher didn't believe he could bounce back, he wouldn't have made the trade. It isn't all sunshine with Ellis, as there are some unknowns with him.

The first is how he will react to the trade since he has been with the Predators since day one. He will have to get to know a whole new set of teammates, a new system, and a new fan base. The 30-year-old is in the third year of an eight-year contract that started before the 2019-2020 season. His contract has a cap hit of $6.25 million per season for the next six seasons. During the 2020-21 season, he only played 35 games because of shoulder surgery. Ellis isn't someone who will throw this weight around, and there are the injury concerns.

The Predators traded Patrick to the Golden Knights shortly after acquiring him for Cody Glass. Patrick was rumored to be on the trade block last season, but nothing came about. He missed the entire 2019-2020 season due to migraines and wasn't the same player when he came back. Patrick was a little hesitant to go into corners after the puck, but he wasn't afraid to go to the front of the net. The 22-year-old can become a restricted free agent on July 28, 2021. The change of scenery and a fresh start can only be a good thing for this kid, who has been through a lot in the last two years.

The other piece of the three-team trade was a 24-year-old defenseman, Philippe Myers. Myers was an undrafted find by former Flyers General Manager Ron Hextall. He is 6'5" and is a smooth skater who isn't afraid to throw his weight around. When he keeps his game simple, he is a good player, but if he tries to do too much, he'll get himself into trouble. In his time with the Flyers, he was inconsistent and benched for poor play, but the benchings didn't always seem to work. He would return to the lineup and make the same mistakes. Myers has a ton of upside, so maybe a change of scenery will be a good thing. He is in his second year of a three-year contract that has a $2.55 million cap hit per season.

Overall, I like the trade even though Ellis is under for the next six seasons and his injury concerns. The cap hit for the contract is a manageable one, and the Flyers still have its first-round draft pick and top prospects in play to make another trade to fill other needs on the team.

The Impact of Matt Niskanen's Retirement on the Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers offseason went from what should have been a dull one to a being a potentially intriguing one in the drop of a hat. 

A veteran defenseman retiring wouldn’t be a big deal in the NHL, but this is 2020. Matt Niskanen decided to retire even though he still has one year left on his current contract at a $5.75 million cap hit. Sure, with Niskanen retiring,  it frees up that cap space, which almost every team will be looking for with a flat cap for the next few years. The Flyers have also re-signed veteran defenseman, Justin Braun. Braun was an unrestricted free agent, the Flyers would have let go, but with Niskanen retiring, the team didn’t want to lose another piece of the penalty kill. Braun signed a new two-year contract worth $3.6 million to go with a $1.8 million cap hit.  The team will miss the leadership and experience that Niskanen brought to the team. 

Niskanen’s retirement will have an impact in the long run that fans may think. The team was in a much better position for the expansion draft, but now that could change. If the team goes and acquires or signs a free agent to a longer-term deal, it may force them to have to make a tough decision as to which blueliners to protect come the expansion draft. The biggest question in all of this is who is Ivan Provorov’s partner this season? Can Provorov has the same success he did this season without Niskanen as his partner? 

Who is Ivan Provorov’s Defense Partner Next Season?

It is one of the longer-term questions that Niskanen’s retirement brings to the table. Do Chuck Fletcher and the Flyers go out and sign someone like Alex Pietrangelo, or maybe try to acquire someone like Matt Dumba? This blue line will be young next season, but there is experience there. I feel like if the Flyers do anything at all, it will be to acquire a top pairing, veteran defenseman. The team could do this via trade or free agency. The team should go after someone who is a decent defender, so Provorov doesn’t have to worry about defending all the time and can maybe pick up some points in the offensive zone.

Sure, the Flyers very well could stand pat and go with who they have on the current roster. The defensemen on the current roster are Provorov, Braun, Shayne Gostisbehere, Robert Hagg, Travis Sanheim, and Phil Myers. They could bring up a guy like Mark Friedman, who could rotate in and out as the seventh defenseman, but I’d rather have Friedman getting some ice time with the AHL club than being the seventh for the Flyers. If everything stands pat, who moves up to play with Provorov? Sanheim played with him for a bit during the 2018-19 season, but that breaks up the Sanheim-Myers pairing. I don’t think Gostisbehere would even be an option to play top-pairing minutes at this point since he’s been so inconsistent and injury-prone the past few seasons. 

Can the Flyers still package Shayne Gostisbehere in a Deal?

Another impact of Niskanen’s retirement: can the Flyers afford to trade Gostisbehere or is he too valuable to the team? The Flyers have some defensive prospects in the system like Egor Zamula and Cam York, but those guys likely won’t see the NHL for another few years. With this being the case and Niskanen no longer a place holder, should the Flyers still see if there are any takers out there for Gostisbehere? My answer to this is yes because they still need a scorer, and it wouldn’t hurt to see what a package with Gostisbehere could bring the team in return.

Gostisbehere has had one good NHL season and that was his rookie one. Granted, the injuries have started to pile up in the last few years. It seems like even when he is healthy, he is a risk on the ice. And yes, I get that those fakes and moves he makes at the offensive blue line are something that most defensemen can’t do, but he is unreliable in the defensive zone. He takes chances with the puck, when he should just clear it or get it to a teammate to clear.  

WHAT IMPACT COULD THIS HAVE ON THE EXPANSION DRAFT?

If Niskanen decided to play out the season and not retire, the Flyers would have been in good shape going into the NHL Expansion Draft for the Seattle Kraken. The decision on which defensemen to protect would have been an easy one with Provorov, Sanheim, and Myers. If the Flyers have to sign or acquire a defenseman with some term to his contract, this will make it more difficult for the team. Yes, they could protect four defensemen, but then that would only leave four forwards to protect. 

Two of those forwards, Claude Giroux and Kevin Hayes, have no-movement clauses, which means the Flyers would have to protect them. That would leave two players to protect, and they would likely be Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny. If the Flyers had to go this way, then they risk losing Oskar Lindblom. Another option would be for the Flyers to make a deal with the Kraken to take James van Riemsdyk off its hands, but at what cost? It still may cost them either some draft picks or a young player that is NHL ready.

Niskanen’s retirement doesn’t just have short-term effects, but also provides some longer-term ones, but I’m sure Fletcher and the Flyers will figure it out, and if they don’t, the fans will have some younger players to look forward to seeing in the future.

Flyers Add Veteran Depth for Postseason Push

The Philadelphia Flyersare right in the thick of things in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference Playoff race. The Flyers didn’t make the splashy moves like their Metropolitan Division foes did, but the moves they made at the NHLTrade Deadline will help this team in the long run. The team acquired veteran forwards Nate Thompsonand Derek Grantin two separate trades.

Every trade has its pros and cons, but let’s focus on the positives these two players will bring to the Flyers. There were cheap options since the team was already up against the salary cap. The forwards bring even more versatility to the Flyers’ lineup. The trade will help an already decent penalty kill be even better, and they won’t block the young kids from being a part of the Flyers in the future.

SALARY CAP LIMITATIONS & YOUNG KIDS

The Flyers didn’t have much cap space going into NHL Trade Deadline Day, so these two trades made perfect sense for the team. Thompson only has a cap hit of $1 million this season, while Grant’s cap hit is only $700,000 for the year. It won’t make too much of dent in the already dwindling cap space.

These two forwards are also unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. If the Flyers decide not to re-sign either one of these players, then it won’t block a youngster likeJoel Farabee from making the team out of training camp. The Flyers rookies have contributed when called upon, and with Grant and Thompson possibly being gone after the season, the young kids could still make the roster next season.

VERSATILITY

The Flyers were one of the deeper teams to start the season, but then the news of Nolan Patrick having a migraine disorder was announced by the team. This news hit the center depth of the team hard, as it was figured that Patrick would be the third line center behind Sean Couturier and Kevin Hayes with Scott Laughtonbeing the fourth line center. The trades will be able to keep Claude Girouxon the wing, where he has excelled in the past few seasons.

Thompson will be the Flyers’ new fourth line center replacing Michael Raffl, who did an admiral job filling in, even though he is not a natural center. Grant’s arrival means that depending on matchups the Flyers can slide Laughton to the wing and Grant to center if needed. Morgan Frost can work on his game without the puck while with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the rest of the season, which will benefit him in the long run, instead of being up with the Flyers and not playing. The addition of the two forwards means more options at the center position, and throughout the lineup.

IMPROVED PENALTY KILL

The Flyers penalty kill has improved this season. The team was ranked in the bottom third last season, but are now the 12th best team at killing penalties in the NHL. In 62 games, the Flyers are killing off 81.7% of the penalties they take. They have allowed 34 power-play goals against in 186 times shorthanded while adding seven shorthanded goals. The addition of Kevin Hayes has made this penalty killing squad better this season, and Thompson and Grant have the potential to make it even better.

The addition of these two forwards will mean that Giroux will only need to take defensive zone draws on the penalty kill only when needed. Grant and Thompson will be solid options on the penalty kill if one of the Flyers better forward penalty killers is in the penalty box. Grant already has three shorthanded goals on the season, and could potentially add more if he’s used by Alain Vigneault while shorthanded. Thompson can eat up some valuable minutes and take face-offs while a man down.

Flying Forward: Some Games, Finally!

The Philadelphia Flyers have only played one game on the season, but it was part of the NHL Global Series so the rest came with playing in the game. The team looked good, played with the pace that new head coach Alain Vigneault wants. There were still too many turnovers, but Carter Hart played a solid game and cleaned up some of those turnovers. The Flyers got the win without the top line getting any points. The depth scoring is going to be a major factor in how well the team does this season.

The Flyers will finally be able to play some more games, but it will only be two this week. They play its official home opener on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, against the New Jersey Devils. Wayne Simmonds makes his return to Philadelphia after being traded to the Nashville Predators last season. The team then has off until Saturday night when they face the Vancouver Canucks on the road. The time off should affect how they play, but if the team looks sluggish to start against the Devils, I wouldn't be surprised.

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019- Devils at Flyers- 7:30 p.m.- NBCSN

The Devils have struggled to keep the puck out of its net to start the season, and that is something that needs to be fixed. The team will need to match the pace of the Flyers, who should come out flying since its the team's official home opener. The Devils need to have a better start to this game, they only have one goal in the first period in two games. The goaltenders, whether it be MacKenzie Blackwood or Cory Schneider, need to make saves for this team to get a win. 

The Flyers have to have their skating legs early in this game to set the pace at which they want to play. The team should try to get the first goal to keep the crowd in the game, and to get the Devils off their game. The Devils haven't been good on the penalty kill so the Flyers want to take advantage of its power play opportunities. The key to this game will be how the Flyers play at even strength, and whether or not they play a clean, solid defensive game. 

Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019- Flyers at Canucks- 10:00 p.m.

The Canucks may be struggling to start the season, but they may have one of the more entertaining young stars in Elias Pettersson. Pettersson was one of the bright spots on the Canucks last season, and I expect him to be just that again this season. The Canucks need to get him and Brock Boeser going, and they can do that by having them use their speed and get pucks on net. The Canucks are a better team when playing the lead rather than chasing the game, so they need to get the first goal of the game. 

The Flyers managed to get a win in their first game without getting a point from Claude Giroux, Kevin Hayes, or Jakub Voracek. If the Flyers want to get the two points the team will need to get some production from this line. The Flyers want to establish a good forecheck early in the game to force the Canucks into turning the puck over. The Flyers need to get the first goal of the game because the Canucks have struggled when trailing especially after the first period. 

Flying Forward Prediction

The Flyers will go 2-0-0 this week and get four of a possible four points. It won't come easy because of the lack of playing games, and the travel schedule. The goaltending will steal a game this week, and the other game will be a close, defensive battle. Kevin Hayes will have a big week for the Flyers, scoring a few goals and assisting on a few others. 

3 Things: Carolina Hurricanes @ Philadelphia Flyers (1/3/19)

The Philadelphia Flyers will take on the Carolina Hurricanes for the second time in four days.

The Flyers came out flat on New Year's Eve and paid the price. Carter Hart was pulled from the game and Michal Neuvirth was good in relief, but the rest of the team seemed to forget that they  actually had a game to play. They were outplayed and eventually lost the game 3-1.

1.) Complete Game for 60 Minutes- Hurricanes

The Hurricanes will want to copy their game plan from Monday night when they faced the Flyers, who should come out with more energy. They'll want to get plenty of pucks on net since Neuvirth is starting for the Flyers, and he can let in some soft goals. The 'Canes need to clog up the neutral zone and not let the Flyers get in behind them on the forecheck and start a cycle game. A good way to take the home crowd out of the game would be to get off to a fast start and get the first goal or two. If the Hurricanes can get the lead, they need to keep playing for a full 60 minutes since the Flyers can come back from down multiple goals in the final period to force overtime. 

2.) Revenge Game- Flyers

The Flyers got  badly outplayed in Carolina on Monday night from almost the beginning of the game. They should come out with more energy in this game so they don't get booed off their home ice at intermission. The Flyers need to set the pace early in this game and get plenty of pucks on net. The team could use the stretch pass to try to behind the neutral zone checking of the Hurricanes' defenders. Another way to get into the offensive one would be to dump the puck in, get after it and win some battles along the boards. If they want to get the two points then they'll need to get some good goaltending, capitalize on their chances and play with some effort tonight.

3.) Start- Hurricanes & Flyers

The start of the game is going to be important for both teams since it is a chance to set the tone for the rest of the game. The Flyers will want to be smart but also physical while getting in on the forecheck. The Hurricanes just need to play the same exact way that they played Monday night and they should get the two points. Both teams will be looking to get the first goal or two of the game since both have had some problems keeping the puck out of their own net so far this year. 

Flying Forward: Building Momentum, Gaining Points

The Philadelphia Flyers look to continue to build momentum and gain some points in the standings this week. The Flyers are 3-1-1 since Scott Gordon was named the team's interim head coach on Dec. 17.

This week is no easy task as they will face the Carolina Hurricanes twice, the Nashville Predators in Nashville and the red-hot Calgary Flames.

Monday, Dec. 31 at Carolina Hurricanes- 6 p.m.

The first game of the week sees the Flyers in Carolina on New Year's Eve. The Hurricanes have struggled to put the puck in the back of the opposition's net this season. The Orange and Black have struggled to keep opponents off the board. It will be interesting to see which team can do what needs to be done to get the two points in the standings. 

The Flyers should be aware of when Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen are on the ice. Aho leads the Hurricanes in goals, assists, and points with Teravainen second on the team in assists and points. The Orange and Black need to get the first goal of the game since they are better when playing with the lead rather than trying to come from behind. Neither team is especially good when trailing after two periods and have combined for only one win while forcing overtime five times in 32 attempts. The Flyers should try to have the lead entering the final period if they want to get two points.

Tuesday, Jan. 1 at Nashville Predators- 8:30 p.m.

The Flyers managed to get a win over the Predators on Dec. 20, but the Predators are a different team at home versus on the road. The Preds have gotten a few important players back from injury recently in Viktor Arvidsson and P.K. Subban. The Flyers have been known rise to the occasion when playing against the top teams in the NHL. 

The Predators' defensemen have no problem moving the puck and joining the play in the offensive zone so the Flyers will need to be aware of the trailing player in the rushes. The Flyers need to establish the forecheck early in the game to keep the Preds defending their own zone instead of attacking in the offensive zone. There needs to be plenty of traffic in front of the Predators net for deflections or tips because if Pekka Rinne is in net then he is stopping what pucks he can see. The Flyers need to limit their mistakes and play smart hockey especially since the Predators can gain speed in the neutral zone off the rush.

Thursday, Jan. 3 vs. Carolina Hurricanes-7 p.m.

The Flyers face-off against the Hurricanes for the second time in four days, but this time it'll be on home ice. The Canes will get their chances in the game since they average just over 37 shots for per game, but the problem has been finishing those chances this season. The Flyers have to be smart with the puck since the Hurricanes will take the puck away and force turnovers.

The Orange and Black should get plenty of pucks on the net since the goalies for the Hurricanes can be shaky at times. If there is an open look then don't overthink it or overpass, put the puck on the net especially on the power play, where the Flyers have been struggling. Amazingly, the Flyers have been an okay team at even strength, and that has been what is keeping them alive so far this season. The goaltending has been a lot better since the rookie Carter Hart has taken over the net. Hart has been solid making saves that the other five goalies couldn't make this season. The Flyers have gotten some secondary scoring of late and that will need to continue in this game.

Saturday, Jan. 5 vs. Calgary Flames- 1 p.m.

The Flames are one of the best teams in the NHL, and one of the hottest too. The Flyers lost an overtime game to them on Dec. 12, where the Flyers managed to blow a two-goal lead with 1:08 left in regulation. The Orange and Black are a different team with a new leader since that last game. The Flames have gotten some decent goaltending from David Rittich, while Mike Smith has given up some really soft goals.

A good way to keep the top line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm off the board is to neutralize their speed and establish a good forecheck and cycle game early to keep the Flames in their own end. The Flyers may want to stay out of the penalty box since the Flames have a decent power play, and should they take a penalty don't give defenseman Mark Giordano any time or space to make a play. The Orange and Black hopefully have learned from their game on Dec. 12 that they need to keep attacking and play smart hockey with the lead or the Flames will burn them taking advantage of their chances and putting pucks in the net.

Flying Forward Weekly Prediction

The Flyers play two games at home this week and two games on the road. They will win both games over the Hurricanes and take all four points against them. The Predators will avenge their loss to the Flyers on Dec. 20 with a regulation win on home ice. The Flyers will keep it competitive against the Flames and then manage to lose in overtime. The Orange and Black will gain five of a possible eight points in a busy week. 

Flying Forward: Back-to-Back & Vegas

The Philadelphia Flyers have a tough week ahead with their home opener, a back-to-back situation and facing the defending Western Conference Champions for the second time in 10 days.

Tuesday, 10.9.18 vs San Jose Sharks- Home Opener- 7 p.m. -NBCSN

The Flyers will start off the week against a struggling San Jose Sharks team. The Sharks have only scored five goals while allowing 11. If Philly wants to impress in the home opener, they will need to get the nerves out early to establish a good forecheck and put some pressure on the goalie. The Flyers should get pucks to the net since the puck seems to be finding the back of the net for opposing teams against San Jose. Philadelphia wants to watch out for the defense of the Sharks because they can move the puck and produce in the offensive zone.

The Flyers are going to need to play a team defense game and make sure they cover for each other. The team needs to clog the neutral zone and take away the potential speed of the Sharks especially in transition. Philadelphia should avoid turning the pucks over because San Jose has the ability to make you pay, and put the puck in the back of the net. The Flyers need to play smart hockey and be aware of where all the opposing players are on the ice and be ready from the drop of the puck.

Wednesday, 10.10.18 @ Ottawa Senators- 7:30 p.m.

There is no rest between games for the Flyers as they travel to Ottawa for the second game of a back-to-back. The Senators have allowed 13 goals, but have scored 11 so whichever goalie is in net for the Flyers, he will need to make some saves. It is the early part of the season, but the penalty kill numbers are great for the Senators so the Flyers need to take advantage of their opportunities

on the power play. They should try to stay out of the penalty box since the Sens have a pretty good first unit while a man up. 

The Flyers want to get the first goal of the game to try to take the home crowd and team out of the game. They will also have to keep an eye on defenseman Thomas Chabot, who has five points to lead the way for the Senators. The Flyers should attack the defense of Ottawa since it isn't exactly one of the top ranked in the NHL. 

Saturday, 10.13.18 vs. Vegas Golden Knights- 1 p.m.

After the back-to-back situation, the Flyers will have a few days off before facing the Golden Knight for the second time in 10 days, this time at home. Philadelphia wants to duplicate the performance of opening night when they played a good game against the Golden Knights. The Flyers want to clog the neutral zone and have active sticks to make it hard for Vegas to get into their zone to get good scoring chances. 

The Flyers need to take advantage of their power play chances. The team will also need to keep an eye on Jonathan Marchessault, who leads the Golden Knights in points. They need to take the speed of the Golden Knights away with a good forecheck and spend some time in the offensive zone. Philadelphia wants to get the puck towards the net since it hasn't been the best start for the Vegas goalies. 

Predicting the Flyers' Week Ahead

The Flyers will go 2-1-0 this week to get four of a possible six points. They will lose against the Sharks, who will come out hungry since they've been struggling. The Flyers will bounce back on Wednesday night and take the win in Ottawa. They will have a few days off and then play an afternoon game against Vegas, which they will win to get the two points. 

Flying Forward: Weekly Preview 3/11/18-3/17/18

The Philadelphia Flyers will look to move up the playoff standings this week, but it won't be easy.

On Monday night, they'll face the Vegas Golden Knights, who are first in the Pacific Division. The Blue Jackets come to town on Thursday night in a game that could loom big for both teams. The Flyers end their week with a visit to Carolina on St. Patrick's Day.

The Flyers need to get off to a fast start against the Golden Knights tonight. They should set the tone early and be prepared to play with some energy from the beginning of the game. Philadelphia will want to establish the forecheck and cycle game early to get sustained offensive zone pressure to get some pucks on net and scoring chances. Petr Mrazek needs to have a stellar game and make saves. The Flyers should keep an eye on Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlson since they are the two top point producers for Vegas.

Vegas should get plenty of shots on goal in this game and test the Flyers goalie early, who has been inconsistent the past few games. The Golden Knights need to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game. Vegas should try to win the battle of special teams with some power play goals. The Golden Knights want to play a solid road game and keep an eye on the Flyers top line since they have been playing well since being put together.

The Orange and Black will host the Blue Jackets on Thursday night and expect this game to be a close one. The Flyers need to be discipline because they have a poor penalty kill. The team is going to need to limit their mistakes and watch out for the speed of the Blue Jackets. Philly will need to get a ton of traffic around the front of the net for screens and deflections. The goaltending for the Flyers will need to come up big since Columbus has been playing good hockey of late and averages 34 shots per game.

Columbus will also want to play with some discipline even with the Flyers power play struggling of late. The Blue Jackets should try to win the special teams battle since the teams are both decent at even strength hockey. Columbus needs to get off to a fast start and get a goal early or make a play that gets the team energized. The Blue Jackets will want to have the lead after two periods since they are a much better team when leading heading into the third period then when trailing. Columbus should know where Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek are on the ice at all times ice since they have decent career numbers against them.

The Flyers end the week with another divisional foe in the Carolina Hurricanes. Philly needs to get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game. The Orange and Black want to play a solid road game and not make it easy for the Canes to do whatever they want on the ice. The Flyers need to win the battle at even strength since the opposition has outscored the Hurricanes 142-118 at even strength play this year; The Flyers will need to keep an eye on Jeff Skinner and Justin Williams since those two have not been kind to the Flyers in their careers.

The Hurricanes will want to play a team defense game with the forwards helping out. Carolina needs to get a good game from the starting goaltender. The Canes need to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking and not sit back. The Hurricanes should avoid the penalty box at all costs since their penalty kill has been an area of concern this season. Carolina will need to be aware of then defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is on the ice since he has 10 points in 11 career games played against them.

Lightning Strikes: Weekly Preview 2/25/18-3/3/18

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be busy this week since they have four games in six days. The good news is that three of those four games are at home.

The Lightning will start the week off with a game against Atlantic Division rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have won four straight games. On Wednesday night, the Evander Kane-less Buffalo Sabres will visit the Lightning with two points on the line. Then on Thursday night the Bolts will be in Dallas to take on the Stars, who are battling for a playoff spot. The Bolts will finish off the week with a game against the Flyers on Saturday afternoon at home.

The Bolts need to come out with some energy in their game against the Leafs on Monday night since the teams are only separated by four points in the standings. The Lightning should try to play with some discipline since their penalty kill has struggled all season. Tampa Bay will need to neutralize the speed of the Maple Leafs especially through the neutral zone to avoid odd man rushes. The Bolts should try to get the forecheck game going often and early since the Leafs do tend to turn the puck over when under pressure. The Lightning will want to keep an eye on Mitch Marner, who has been on absolute fire of late, creating and scoring in the offensive zone because of his speed.

The Maple Leafs need to get the first goal of the game to build momentum and take the home crowd out of the game. The Leafs should have their newest addition, Tomas Plekanec in the lineup tonight so that will add another good two way player to the mix. Toronto needs to play well while on special teams since they allow as much as they score when playing at even strength. The Maple Leafs want to get a good game out of goaltender, Freddie Andersen, who has been very good for most of this season. The Leafs will want to find a way to neutralize Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov since they are the leading point getters on the Lightning.

On Wednesday night, the last place Sabres come to town to take on the Bolts. The Lightning don't want to over look this Sabres team because that could cost them an important two points down the stretch. The Bolts should get the first goal of the game and be sure to put plenty of pressure on the Sabres since they tend to turn the puck over. The Lightning need to stay out of the penalty box even though the Sabres power play isn't one of the best, Tampa Bay's penalty kill is towards the bottom of the NHL.

Buffalo wants to play a solid road game while trying to play the role of spoiler. In order to play spoiler, they will need to make sure that they play solid defense the whole game. The Sabres need to get some good goaltending in this game since the Bolts tend to get their scoring chances. Buffalo should get off to a good start in this game with an early first goal and build their momentum from there. The Sabres need to figure out a way to get their struggling power play going and take advantage of the weak penalty kill of the Bolts.

The Bolts will travel to Dallas on Thursday night to take on the Stars, who are also battling it out for a playoff spot. The Lightning need to get a good game from the goaltender. They'll need to play a solid road game and keep the Stars in check at home, where they have been very good. The Bolts need to win the battle at even strength play since their special teams are only mediocre. Tampa Bay needs to keep an eye on Alexander Radulov and John Klingberg when they are on the ice because they can make it pretty chaotic out there.

The Stars need to get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game. They will also need to play a good defensive game including the forwards. Dallas will need to get off to a good start, set the tone early in this one and get the first goal of the game. The Stars are going to need to find a way to get their power play going because they have too many good players on it for it to be struggling. The goalie is going to need to have a big game to keep his team in the game.

The Bolts need to play with discipline since their one weakness has been the penalty kill this year. Tampa Bay should get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game and have the momentum. The Lightning want to win the special teams battle since both teams play a solid even strength game. The Bolts goaltender will need to make some big saves throughout the game and make the easy saves too. Tampa Bay is going to need to find a way to stop the balanced attack of the Flyers by making them defend in their own zone.

 The Flyers will need to find a way to stop the balanced attack of the Lightning by spending some time in their offensive zone. The Orange and Black are going to want to play a solid road game and keep the defensive gap pretty small. Philly wants to make sure that they get a ton of traffic in front of the net for deflections and to take the goalie's eyes away from the puck. The Orange and Black want to limit their mistakes and get some solid goaltending.

Flying Forward: Weekly Preview 2/25/18-3/3/18

The Philadelphia Flyers look to continue extend their five game win streak this week as they take on some Eastern Conference opponents.

The Flyers start the week off with a rare Monday night game on the schedule. They will take on a disappointing Canadiens team in Montreal. On Thursday night, the Flyers return to the Wells Fargo Center to take on the Carolina Hurricanes. Philly will finish out the week on Saturday afternoon against the Lightning in Tampa Bay.

The Flyers will want to make sure that they establish the forecheck and cycle game early and often against the Canadiens. The Orange and Black will want to make sure that they take advantage of their power play opportunities since the Habs aren't exactly the best penalty killing team in the NHL. The Flyers will want to have a strong even strength game against Montreal since the team actually has a decent power play and can put some pucks in the net while on the man advantage. Philly should get some shots on goal since the rookie goalie will be starting tonight for the Habs.

The Canadiens have struggled mightily this year and have been one of the more disappointing teams in the League. They will want to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking because the Flyers have been finding ways to win games lately. The Habs should set the tone early whether it be physically or spending time in the offensive zone. Montreal wants to play discipline since they have a weak penalty kill, and the Flyers have good power play. The Canadiens need to play a consistent game and take advantage of being up a man on the ice since the Flyers have one of the worst penalty kills in the League.

On Thursday night, the Flyers take on Metropolitan Division foe, Carolina Hurricanes. The Orange and Black will need to play well at even strength, while still being discipline. Philly needs to take advantage of their power play opportunities since the Hurricanes seem to allow a lot of power play goals. The Flyers should use their speed to create chances and draw some penalties. The Orange and Black need to be aware of where Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho are on the ice since they are the leading point getters for the Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes will want to be discipline and not give the Flyers too many chances on the power play. Carolina needs its goaltender to have a big game and not allow any soft goals. The Canes should try to get the first goal of the game and keep putting the pressure on the Flyers since they will turn the puck over. The Hurricanes need to win the special teams battle if they want to have a chance at winning the game. Carolina should be aware of the speed and creativity of forward Travis Konecny and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who has killed them in his brief career.

Philly ends their week with an afternoon game in Tampa Bay against the Lightning. The Flyers will need to find a way to stop the balanced attack of the Lightning by spending some time in their offensive zone. The Orange and Black are going to want to play a solid road game and keep the defensive gap pretty small. Philly wants to make sure that they get a ton of traffic in front of the net for deflections and to take the goalie's eyes away from the puck. The Orange and Black want to limit their mistakes and get some solid goaltending.

The Bolts need to play with discipline since their one weakness has been the penalty kill this year. Tampa Bay should get the first goal of the game to keep the home crowd in the game and have the momentum. The Lightning want to win the special teams battle since both teams play a solid even strength game. The Bolts goaltender will need to make some big saves throughout the game and make the easy saves too. Tampa Bay is going to need to find a way to stop the balanced attack of the Flyers by making them defend in their own zone.

3 Things: Carolina Hurricanes @ Philadelphia Flyers : 3/1/18

The Philadelphia Flyers will look to gain two valuable points tonight at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Here are three things to watch for in tonight's game:

1.) GOALTENDING- HURRICANES

The goaltending is going to need to come up big for the Hurricanes to even have a shot at winning the game. The goalie is going to have to make the big save and make the easy save. The defense will need to help the goalies out and clear the front of the net so he can see the shots that are coming towards him. Whether it be Cam Ward or Scott Darling in the crease for the Hurricanes, the goalie needs to make sure that they are in position to stop the puck and not give up too many rebound chances. The goalies need to bounce back really quick if a soft goal is given up or scored.

2.) SHAYNE GOSTISBEHERE- FLYERS

Gostisbehere has been a Hurricane killer in his brief career especially in overtime. In 10 games in his career against the Hurricanes, Ghost has 10 points including four goals and six assists. Of his four career goals against the Hurricanes, three of them have been game-winning goals. Gostisbehere loves playing against the Hurricanes and the Canes need to be aware of when he is on the ice and where he is on the ice.

3.) TEUVO TERAVAINEN VS. TRAVIS KONECNY

Teravainen is tied for the team lead in points with Sebastian Aho for the Hurricanes. In 62 games played this year, he has 47 points including 15 goals and 32 assists. The Canes have sturggled to score this year at time, but Teravainen has been one of their more consistent players. Travis Konecny started the season off very slow, but has been on fire since he was put on the top line with Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier. In 61 games played, he has 34 points to go with 15 goals and 19 assists. He plays at even strength and on the second power play unit. In his last five games played, he has two goals, three assists and five total points.

3 Things: Devils @ Flyers 2/13/18

The New Jersey Devils will take on the Philadelphia Flyers in a Metropolitan Divisional matchup that takes places tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. This game has huge playoff implications as the two teams are only separated by three points in the standings, but the Devils have a game in hand on the Flyers.

Here are three things to look for in tonight's game:

1.) DISCIPLINE- FLYERS

The Flyers need to find a way to carry over the discipline that they played with in Las Vegas into this game. The Orange and Black only took one penalty while playing a road game in Vegas. Philadelphia  has one of the worst penalty kill units in the League, only killing off 74.4% of the penalties taken. Their penalty kill at home is somehow worse than the overall penalty kill at just 72%. The Flyers need to avoid taking penalties especially the ones that are not necessary to take like high sticking and hooking.

2.) GET FIRST GOAL- DEVILS

New Jersey will want to get off to a good start in this game and get the first goal of the game to take the crowd out of the game. The Flyers have been good on home ice of late so if the Devils want to take the crowd out of the game then they will need to be ready to play from the start of the game. The Devils are a much better team when scoring the first goal of the game, but have also had some wins when the opposition has scored first. If the Devils can manage to get the early lead, they will have to keep attacking and not sit back because the Flyers have won 13 games when the opposition scores the first goal of the game.

3.) GOALTENDING- DEVILS & FLYERS

The goaltending is going to be a big factor in this game and something to keep a close eye on. Keith Kinkaid will get the start for the Devils, while Michael Neurvirth looks to get the start for the Flyers. Kinkaid and the Devils have really struggled since losing Cory Schneider to an injury. Kinkaid will need to have one of his best games of the season to grab two points. Neuvirth is coming off of a big game against the Vegas Golden Knights where he only allowed one goal against. The goaltenders are going to have to step up their game tonight because these two teams will get scoring chances. The goalies could be the difference makers for these teams tonight.

Flying Forward: Weekly Preview 2/11/18-2/17/18

The Philadelphia Flyers look to continue their winning ways of late this week as they face some Metropolitan Division foes. 

The Flyers will start the week off  by playing their first ever game in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights, who have been a surprise team to most this year. Philly will then make a quick pit stop home to face the struggling New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night. The Orange and Black will then head out to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets, who have not had the easiest of times this season and are underachieving so far. The Flyers need to be very good this week or it could cost them some valuable points in the playoff race as the Metropolitan Division is very tight.

The Flyers take on the surprising expansion team, Vegas Golden Knights, who have the second best record in the NHL just behind the Tampa Bay Lightning. Philadelphia is going to need to play a solid, 60 minute road game and limit their mistakes and turnovers. They will have to do a good job at protecting the puck while getting off to a good start in this one. The Flyers need to get a good game from Michal Neuvirth, who got the win last night after he came in during a shootout after Brian Elliott was injured. The Orange and Black should try to stay out of the penalty box since the team has one of the worst penalty kills in the League and Vegas has a decent power play.

The Golden Knights should get plenty of shots on Neuvirth early and often to test him since he hasn't played a ton lately. Vegas needs to find a way to stop the now balanced lineup of the Flyers since they have three solid lines that can put the puck in the back of the new. The Golden Knight will want to force turnovers and get quality scoring chances. They should try to win the special teams battle since the Flyers power play has been red hot lately and is now in the top 10 in the League. 

Philly will come home to an important game against division foes, New Jersey Devils. The Flyers want to keep an eye on Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier since they are the two leading scorers for the Devils. The Orange and Black should be ready for this game and set the tone right from the drop of the puck since these two teams are very close in the standings. The Flyers need to play with discipline and when a penalty is taken then the penalty killers need to find a way to come up with some big stops. Philadelphia should try to get the forecheck and cycling game going early in this one to make the Devils defend.

The Devils want to know where Nolan Patrick and Travis Konecny are at all times when they are on the ice since they have really stepped up their games the past month or so. New Jersey needs to win the battle at even strength since that is an area where they've struggled the year. The Devils will want a good game from the goaltending since the Flyers now have three lines that are rolling and creating in the offensive zone. It would certainly help if the Devils could get the first goal of the game to take the home crowd out of the game a bit. New Jersey should keep an eye on the Flyers defense because they like to pinch and join the rush in the offensive zone.

The Flyers end their week on Friday night to take on anther division foe in the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Orange and Black need to get off to a good start in this one to take the home crowd out of the game early. Philly needs to get plenty of traffic in front of the net for deflections and to take away the goalie's eyes. The Flyers need to win the special teams battle since that has been a struggle for the Blue Jackets all season long. The Orange and Black should try to limit their mistakes and know where Artemi Panarin and Seth Jones are at all times when they are on the ice.

The Blue Jackets will want to play a 60 minute game, which hasn't come easy for them this year, but they did manage on of those games against the Devils last week. Columbus will want to win the even strength battle since it has been a struggle on special teams for them this year. The Blue Jackets need to be aware of Sean Couturier and Jake Voracek when they are on the ice since they are Philly's goal scoring leader and point leader. Columbus needs to play with discipline and take advantage of playing on home ice where they have been quite good this year. 

3 Things: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Philadelphia Flyers (1/2/18)

The Philadelphia Flyers are looking to gain some points in the Metropolitan Division, and what better way to start then with a win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Penguins will take on the Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center tonight, and the game will be aired on NBCSN with the puck dropping around 7:00 p.m. ET.

Here are three things to watch for in tonight's game:

1.) Even Strength Play 
The Penguins and the Flyers are both going to need to play a sound game at even strength since both teams have had their struggles while playing 5-on-5 hockey this year. The Orange and Black have only scored 65 goals while playing at even strength, while giving up only 56 goals. The Flyers have struggled to score goals at even strength, but aren't giving the opposition much while playing 5-on-5 hockey. The Penguins have only scored 53 goals while playing at even strength and they have given up 91 goals against. The two teams are going to need to be the better team while playing at even strength in order to win this game.

2.) Special Teams

It is no secret that the Flyers have had one of the worst penalty kills for the last few years, and this year, it hasn't been any better. The Orange and Black are only killing off 76.8% of their penalties taken, and are only 72.7% on the penalty kill at home. Philly's power play is in the middle of the pack, but they have converted on some opportunities of late, but the second unit needs to start pitching in for more balance. Pittsburgh has the third best power play in the NHL at 25%, and it can be dangerous so the Flyers want to stay out of the penalty box. The Pens penalty kill has been okay so far this year, and is ranked 15th in the NHL at 81%.

3.) Start

These two teams have struggled to start games well this season. The Flyers usually have dreadful starts to games coming off of long breaks, and they haven't played since Friday night in Tampa Bay. The Penguins are getting outscored 41-29 in opening periods of games so far this year. This is a rivalry game so I wouldn't be surprised if these two teams come onto the ice ready to play. These teams need to be ready to go from puck drop and not be sluggish or that could wind up costing them the game early.

Flying Forward: Weekly Preview 12/31/17-1/6/18

The Philadelphia Flyers will finally start to see some teams in their own conference and division. Philadelphia will have two chances to gain some ground on Metropolitan Division opponents this week.

The Orange and Black will take on divisional rival, the Pittsburgh Penguins, on Tuesday night on national television as the game will be aired on NBCSN at 7:00 p.m. The Islanders will then visit Philly on Thursday night in another big divisional game. The Flyers will end their week with a  visit form Brayden Schenn and the St. Louis Blues, who have been struggling lately.

The Flyers are going to need to find a way to stop Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel since they are the two top point producers on the Pens. Philadelphia needs to play with discipline because the Penguins have the third best power play in the NHL. The Orange and Black want to win the even strength battle since the penalty kill is a weak one. The Flyers need to have a better start to this game since the first period has been a problem for Philly all season. They have been outscored in the first period 33-25 so far. Philly will need to play with energy from the drop of the puck and established the tone of the game early.

The Penguins will want to take advantage of a weak Flyers penalty kill that is ranked 29th in the League. Pittsburgh also needs to get off to a better start since they have been outscored 41-29 in first periods of game. The Pens need to have the better of the even strength play. Pittsburgh needs to have the lead entering the final period of the game since they only have four wins when trailing after two periods, but don't have a loss when leading after two periods. The Pens want to get good goaltending since the Flyers can put the puck in the net, if they are at the top of their game. The Penguins are going to need to get shots on goal and traffic in front of the opposing goaltender.

The Isles will visit the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night for another big divisional game. The Flyers need to find a way to stop Josh Bailey, John Tavares, Anders Lee and company. One way to do that is to get a good forecheck established early, spend some time in the offensive zone, and get plenty of shots on net since the goaltending hasn't been great for New York this year. Philly needs to stay out of the penalty box since the Isles have a dangerous power play that can put the puck in the net. The Orange and Black want to get the first goal of the game, and build from there. The Flyers need to establish a forecheck and cycle game early and often.

New York needs to stay out of the penalty box since the Flyers have a good power play in their own right. The Islanders need to get good goaltending in this game, which is something that has been lacking at times this year. The Isles should try to get an early goal, and make the Flyers play from behind. New York needs to have a better start to this game since they have struggled in first periods of games this year. The Islanders will want to be aware of when Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux on the ice since they have had some good chemistry this year, and can put up some points when on the ice together.

Brayden Schenn makes his return to Philly with this new team, the St. Louis Blues. The Flyers need to make sure that they keep the duo of Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko in-check when they are on the ice. The Orange and Black need to get off to a fast start and have some jump right from the drop of the puck. Philadelphia wants to avoid mistakes and turnovers in this game since the Blues have a decent transition game. The Flyers need to have a solid defensive effort and cash in on their chances when they have them.

The Blues need to get good goaltending in this game whether it should be Jake Allen or Carter Hutton. St. Louis wants to play a full 60 minute game, and not have lapses throughout the game. The Blues should try to get their power play going against the Flyers, who have one of the worst penalty kills in the NHL. St. Louis will need to keep an eye on Wayne Simmonds and Shayne Gostisbehere, who can lead the Flyers offense in different ways. Brayden Schenn should be playing in another gear since he plays against his former team. 

Flying Forward: Weekly Preview 12/10/17-12/16/17

The Philadelphia Flyers look to extend their winning streak to four games after having four days off. It won't be an easy task as they face some good teams this week, but they will play in front of the home crowd all week.

On Tuesday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs come to town, and it won't be an easy task to get a win whether or not Auston Matthews is in the Leafs lineup. The Buffalo Sabres will visit the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night. The Flyers finish off their week against the Dallas Stars, who have struggled on the road so far this year.

The Flyers will need to keep the balanced scoring going that they have had the past three games. Philadelphia will ned to get the first goal of the game and build off of it. The Orange and Black will need to keep attacking and establish a good forecheck game early in the game to make the Leafs defend. The Flyers will need to limit their mistakes especially in the neutral zone since the Leafs have some good transition speed. Philly will need to keep James van Riemsdyk and Mitch Marner in check.

Toronto needs to find a way to stop the recently red hot Michael Raffl, who has scored five goals in his last eight games after scoring zero in his previous 42. The Leafs will need to get some good goaltending the Flyers can also get some pucks on net. The Maple Leafs will need to have a solid, road effort and get scoring from the depth lines. Toronto will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Flyers have a good power play. They will also need to watch the Philly defense since they like to join the play in the offensive zone, and will pinch to keep a play alive.

The Flyers will need to keep the new look lines and balanced attack going against the Sabres. Philly needs to not play down to their opponent since they have been known to do this the past few years. The Flyers will need to get in on the attack, establish a forecheck early in the game and force a ton of turnovers throughout the game. The Orange and Black need to be better with the puck, and limit their mistakes since they have had plenty of costly turnovers lately. Philly needs to avoid the penalty box since the penalty kill has been in the bottom of the League all season long. The Flyers need to be aware of where Jack Eichel and Jason Pominville are on the ice.

Buffalo will need to get the first goal of the game since the Flyers are a better team when playing with the lead. The Sabres will need to keep attacking and get some sustained pressure in the offensive zone to keep the new balanced lines off the board for Philly. Buffalo will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Flyers have a decent power play even though they have allowed four shorthanded goals against this year. The Sabres will need to keep Jake Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehere in check since they play a big part in the offense. Buffalo will need to be aware of the Philadelphia defense since they have no problem joining the play in the offensive zone.

The Flyers will end their week playing the somewhat inconsistent Stars. Philadelphia will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Stars have a power play that can be dangerous. The Flyers will need to contain Tyler Seguin, who leads the Stars in both goals and total points. The Orange and Black will also need to pressure the puck carrier and force the Stars into making turnovers. Philly will need to limit their mistakes with and without the puck because the Stars can make you pay for your mistakes. The Flyers will need to be sure to get some traffic in front of the goalie, get a ton of shots on net and make sure that they have someone in front for rebound opportunities.

The Stars will need to somehow figure out a way to cure their road woes that they have had so far this year. It would help if they could play a solid, defensive, 60 minute game and avoid the mistakes. Dallas will need to find a way to keep Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier off the board since they have contributed a lot to the offense this year. The Stars will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Flyers have a power play that can be dangerous. Dallas will need to get the forecheck and cycle game going early for a chance to get the first goal of the game, and make Philly play from behind.

Leafs Notes: Weekly Preview 12/10/17-12/16/17

The Toronto Maple Leafs look to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Leafs start their week off by facing Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. Toronto then travels to Philly on Tuesday night to face a well rested Flyers team. The Leafs then travel to Minnesota to face the Wild on Thursday night. Toronto will end their week with a game against the Red Wings in Detroit.

The Leafs will need to stop Connor McDavid as they face the Oilers tonight at home. It seems if you slow down or stop him in a game then the Oilers offense gets stopped. The Maple Leafs will need to watch the Oilers defensemen since they can put up some points especially Darnell Nurse and Kris Russell. Toronto will need to take advantage of one of the worst penalty kills in the League by scoring some goals while on the man advantage. The Leafs will need to get a good game from backup goalie, Curtis McElhinney since he hasn't seen much action this year. The Maple Leafs will need to get the first goal of the game and have a solid defensive effort with no Auston Matthews and the backup goalie in tonight.

The Oilers will need to get the first goal of the game and keep attacking. Edmonton will need to play team defense and get a forecheck game established early. The Oilers will need to avoid the penalty box since the Leafs have a very good power play that can be dangerous. Edmonton will want to have the lead entering the final period since they haven't lost a game when leading after two periods this year. The Oilers will need to get a good game from the backup goaltender and he will need to make some key saves since the Leafs can get pucks to the net.

Toronto needs to find a way to stop the recently red hot Michael Raffl, who has scored five goals in his last eight games after scoring zero in his previous 42. The Leafs will need to get some good goaltending the Flyers can also get some pucks on net. The Maple Leafs will need to have a solid, road effort and get scoring from the depth lines. Toronto will need to stay out of the penalty box since the Flyers have a good power play. They will also need to watch the Philly defense since they like to join the play in the offensive zone, and will pinch to keep a play alive.

The Flyers will need to keep the balanced scoring going that they have had the past three games. Philadelphia will ned to get the first goal of the game and build off of it. The Orange and Black will need to keep attacking and establish a good forecheck game early in the game to make the Leafs defend. The Flyers will need to limit their mistakes especially in the neutral zone since the Leafs have some good transition speed. Philly will need to keep James van Riemsdyk and Mitch Marner in check.

The Leafs will need to get plenty of traffic in front of the Wild goalies because if they can see it then they will likely stop it. Toronto will need to establish a good forecheck early in the game. The Maple Leafs will need to get the first goal of the game and take the home crowd out of the game. The Leafs will need to stay out of the penalty box and find a way to stop Jason Zucker and Eric Staal.

The Wild need to get some sustained offensive pressure to stop the balanced attack of the Leafs. Minnesota will need to play solid defensive game, and have the forwards make sure that the gap isn't too big. The Wild need to get plenty of traffic in front of the net, and get the first goal of the game. Minnesota will need to be better in the first period of the game since they have been outscored by a goal in first periods of games. The Wild are going to need to find a way to stop Patrick Marleau and William Nylander.

The Maple Leafs finish off their week with a divisional game against the Detroit Red Wings. The Leafs will need to play a solid road game and limit their mistakes with the puck. Toronto will need to find a way to keep Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha off the board since they are the two leading scorers on the team. The Leafs will need to get traffic in front of the net and get pucks on net. The Leafs needs to stay out of the penalty box, and keep playing the way they've been play all season at even strength.

The Red Wings will need to play better while at even strength since they have been outscored 66-51 so far. They will need to play a discipline game, and stay out of the penalty box. Detroit will need to watch the transition game of the Leafs since they have plenty of speed. The Red Wings will need to limit their mistakes and play a solid defensive game.