The Flyers are 1-1-1 during the preseason to date. The Bruins are 2-1-1, including a 4-2 victory by a roster containing most of their NHL regulars defeating a Flyers "B" squad at TD Garden last Thursday. The Flyers picked up their first preseason victory on Saturday, as their own "A" lineup defeated a Washington Capitals club that was missing a host of regulars, 3-1, at the Wells Fargo Center. Claude Giroux (power play), Cam Atkinson and Scott Laughton scored for the Flyers.
With the Flyers in the midst of playing three games in four nights, the team took an off-day on Sunday. Following this game, the Flyers will travel to New York on Tuesday for a road tilt against the Islanders. New York claimed a 3-2 overtime victory over the Flyers in the preseason opener last Tuesday.
Against the Bruins, Carter Hart will make his second start of the preseason. He will go the distance in goal.
Giroux took a maintenance day on Monday and will not play in this game, although linemates Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny are in the starting lineup. NHL veteran forwards Derick Brassard and Scott Laughton also have the night off on Monday as does the defensive duo of Travis Sanheim and Rasmus Ristolainen along with fellow veteran Justin Braun (maintenance day) and No. 2 goalie Martin Jones.
Entering the lineup for this exhibition game are the likes of forwards Jackson Cates, Connor Bunnaman, Max Willman and 19-year-old prospect Elliot Desnoyers. On the blueline, veteran Adam Clendening will get a start along with prospects Linus Högberg and Wyatte Wylie. Regulars Ivan Provorov, partner Ryan Ellis and Keith Yandle are also starting.
Flyers' projected lines are as follows.
86 Joel Farabee - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
23 Oskar Lindblom - 48 Morgan Frost - 89 Cam Atkinson
25 James van Riemsdyk - 73 Elliot Desnoyers - 62 Nic Aube-Kubel
82 Connor Bunnaman - 59 Jackson Cates - 71 Max Willman
9 Ivan Provorov - 94 Ryan Ellis
3 Keith Yandle - 65 Wyatte Wylie
84 Linus Högberg - 5 Adam Clendening
79 Carter Hart
[33 Samuel Ersson]
PP1: van Riemsdyk (netfront), Farabee (left wall), Konecny (slot) Couturier (right wall), Yandle (point)
PP2: Desnoyers (netfront), Frost (left wall), Ellis (right point to right wing), Atkinson (slot), Provorov (left to center point)
Tonight's Opponent: Boston Bruins
The Bruins dressed a host of regulars in their last two preseason games. Not surprisingly, with Monday's match in Philly being a road game and already the fifth exhibition game for Cassidy's team, they will go with a "B" lineup. Among the players not making the trip to Philadelphia are the top forward line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, notable forwards such as Taylor Hall or Jake DeBrusk and regular NHL defensemen such Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelycyk or Brandon Carlo. However, goalie Jeremy Swayman will get the start in this game after earning a win over the Flyers last Thursday. Linus Ullmark started in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Rangers and is not on the trip to Philadelphia.
Boston's game-day roster is as follows.
Forwards: Samuel Asselin, Anton Blidh, Trent Frederic, Jesper Froden, Curtis Hall, Cam Hughes, Joona Koppanen, Karson Kuhlman, Jakub Lauko, Curtis Lazar, Oskar Steen, Jack Studnicka and Chris Wagner
Defensemen: Jack Ahcan, Connor Clifton, Tyler Lewington, Brady Lyle, John Moore, Nick Wolff and Jakub Zboril
Goaltenders: Troy Grosenick, Kyle Keyser and Jeremy Swayman (starter).
