Hurricanes and Flyers Set to Clash in Anticipated Matchup
The Carolina Hurricanes and the Philadelphia Flyers are set to face off at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia tonight at 7:00 p.m. EST. This game marks the beginning of a home-and-home series between the two Metropolitan Division rivals.
Team Records and Standings
The Carolina Hurricanes enter the game with a 19-9-2 record, placing them first in the Metropolitan Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference. The Philadelphia Flyers hold a 16-9-4 record, positioning them in the top wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Season Performance
The Hurricanes have been strong on the road this season, boasting a 9-4-1 record. Offensively, they average 3.30 goals per game, ranking sixth in the league. Their power play operates at 15.4%. Defensively, the Hurricanes allow 2.8 goals per game, ranking eleventh in the NHL.
The Flyers have been solid at home but are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Philadelphia's offense has recorded 82 goals this season, averaging 2.83 goals per game. Their power play operates at 17.3%. On the defensive end, the Flyers allow 2.79 goals per game, ranking tenth in the league.
Projected Lineups
While official lineups are always subject to change, here’s how the Flyers are expected to line up:
- Forwards: Trevor Zegras–Christian Dvorak–Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov–Sean Couturier–Owen Tippett, Nikita Grebenkin–Noah Cates–Bobby Brink, Carl Grundstrom–Rodrigo Abols–Garnet Hathaway
- Defensemen: Nick Seeler–Travis Sanheim, Emil Andrae-Jamie Drysdale, Ty Murchison-Noah Juulsen
- Goaltenders: Sam Ersson, Dan Vladar
Injury Report
The Hurricanes' Jaccob Slavin is currently on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, though he has started practicing this week. Charles-Alexis Legault is out with a hand injury. For the Flyers, Tyson Foerster is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Rasmus Ristolainen is out with a tricep injury, and Cameron York is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Players to Watch
- Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes with 26 points. Seth Jarvis has 25 points, including a team-leading 17 goals. Shayne Gostisbehere has been a key offensive contributor with 22 points. Goalie Brandon Bussi has a 10-1-0 record with a 2.1 GAA and .910 save percentage.
- Flyers: Trevor Zegras leads the Flyers with 28 points. Travis Konecny has 25 points. Daniel Vladar has an 11-5-2 record with a 2.5 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.
Key Matchup Factors
Several factors could influence the outcome of this game. The Hurricanes have dominated the recent head-to-head matchups, winning the last six games against the Flyers. Carolina's goaltending has been excellent, particularly from rookie Brandon Bussi. The Flyers' power-play struggles have limited their scoring bursts. The Hurricanes' strong defense and ability to control the pace of the game could also be a deciding factor.
Prediction
While the Flyers have been competitive this season, the Hurricanes' strong overall play, healthy roster, and dominance in recent matchups make them the favorites in this contest. Expect a tight, physical game, with the Hurricanes ultimately prevailing.
