Yahoo Sports Gameday 41 Preview: Flyers vs. Maple Leafs
The Philadelphia Flyers return to the Wells Fargo Center for the first time in over two weeks as they prepare to host the Toronto Maple Leafs, just two days after their scrappy 3-2 overtime loss in Toronto.
With a rejuvenated home crowd and momentum to build upon, this matchup promises to be a compelling continuation of their recent clash up north.
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Ivan Fedotov Gets Another Start in Net
Ivan Fedotov's performance in Toronto was a highlight, particularly given the circumstances. After sitting out for a month, he stepped in against a high-powered Maple Leafs offense and made 22 saves, keeping the Flyers competitive throughout. While his rebound control showed some rust, Fedotov displayed calmness under pressure, tracking the puck well and making several crucial stops.
Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News
Head coach John Tortorella's decision to give Fedotov back-to-back starts speaks to the impressiveness of his performance, while allowing fellow netminder Aleksei Kolosov some time to rest, which will be crucial considering the goalie duties will fall on Fedotov and Kolosov until Sam Ersson is back from injury.
Considering that he's still getting back in the groove of starting, Fedotov's success will, in part, depend on the defensive support in front of him. Against the Leafs on Sunday, the Flyers' blue line held its own but had moments of lapses when Toronto's forwards turned up the heat. Everyone on defense will need to stay sharp to ensure Fedotov isn't left to fend for himself.
Back on Home Ice
After a grueling two-week road trip, the Flyers are finally back in Philadelphia, where they'll settle in for a four-game homestand—and the return to familiar surroundings couldn't come at a better time.
Road trips can be mentally and physically exhausting, especially when stretch across multiple time zones and feature games against strong opponents like Vegas and Toronto. Home ice offers the Flyers an opportunity to reset and reestablish their rhythm, while the energy of the Wells Fargo crowd could provide an always-welcome boost.
Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News
Moreover, the Flyers' offensive production has been rolling, even during the road trip. Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates, and Bobby Brink have been particularly impressive as a line, and their ability to sustain pressure in the offensive zone will be critical against a Leafs team that thrives on transition play.
The team's discipline will also be under scrutiny, given the chippy nature of Sunday's game in Toronto. Garnet Hathaway's bout with Jake McCabe and other heated moments added an edge to the matchup, and there's no sign things will have cooled off at all in the past couple days. The Flyers will need to find a balance between playing physically and avoiding unnecessary penalties that could give Toronto an advantage.
A Chance for Redemption
Sunday's overtime loss to the Leafs was a respectable effort but also a reminder of the Flyers' growth areas. Toronto stifled much of the Flyers' creativity in the offensive zone, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on the Flyers' few defensive lapses. Despite that, the Flyers managed to push the game to overtime, thanks to goals from Tyson Foerster and Scott Laughton, and demonstrated they could compete with one of the league's top teams.
This rematch provides a chance for redemption. One key area to watch will be the Flyers' ability to generate sustained offensive zone time against a Toronto defense that excels at breaking up plays quickly. They'll need to to find ways to exploit gaps and keep the pressure on Toronto's goaltending.
Additionally, with the Flyers' powerplay showing signs of improvement in recent weeks, they'll look to capitalize on any opportunities the Leafs give them. Special teams could play a pivotal role, especially if the physicality from Sunday's game carries over.
Projected Lines
Philadelphia Flyers
Forwards:
Owen Tippett - Ryan Poehling - Travis Konecny
Scott Laughton - Morgan Frost - Matvei Michkov
Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink
Joel Farabee - Sean Couturier - Garnet Hathaway
Defense:
Cam York - Travis Sanheim
Egor Zamula - Rasmus Ristolainen
Nick Seeler - Jamie Drysdale
Starting Goalie:
Ivan Fedotov
Toronto Maple Leafs
Forwards:
Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann - John Tavares - William Nylander
Max Pacioretty - Max Domi - Steven Lorentz
Connor Dewar - David Kampf - Ryan Reaves
Defense:
Morgan Reilly - Philippe Myers
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit - Conor Timmins
Starting Goalie:
Joseph Woll
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