(SportsNetwork.com) – The Philadelphia Flyers look to build off their first
victory of the season on Tuesday night as they visit the streaking Chicago
Blackhawks.
The Flyers opened the campaign 0-2-2 before picking up a 6-5 victory against
Dallas in overtime on Saturday. Claude Giroux had the winner on a power-play
tally with 2:11 left on the clock.
Jakub Voracek posted a goal and two assists, while Michael Raffl netted the
game-tying goal with 3:53 left in regulation for a Philadelphia club that was
coming off back-to-back shootout losses.
Steve Mason started the game in net, but was pulled after giving up four goals
on 18 shots in two periods. Ray Emery gave up a goal on five shots in relief
as the Flyers came back from deficits of 1-0, 4-2 and 5-4.
“It’s a good character win because the team battled back for a lot of deficits
in the game,” said Philadelphia coach Craig Berube. “This win will give our
team some confidence, that’s for sure.”
Voracek is skating with confidence as he has a point in each of the Flyers’
first five games. He has two goals and five assists over that span, becoming
the first Philadelphia skater since Chris Pronger in 2011-12 to begin a season
on a five-game point streak.
Voracek is looking to post the club’s first six-game season-opening point
streak since Simon Gagne and Peter Forsberg in 2005-06.
Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn has not played since suffering a lower-body
injury on Oct. 8, but was close to skating against Dallas before again sitting
out. He is expected to be a game-time decision tonight.
Mason could get a chance to rebound in net and is 6-10-3 with a 3.52 goals
against average and .885 save percentage versus the Blackhawks. Emery is 3-1-1
with a 2.93 GAA and .891 save percentage in five games against his former
club.
The Blackhawks have begun the season on a four-game point streak (3-0-1) and
are coming off Saturday’s 2-1 overtime decision against Nashville. Jonathan
Toews scored the winner shorthanded with 1:34 left in the bonus frame.
Patrick Sharp took a tripping penalty 1:50 into overtime, but Toews picked off
a Nashville pass attempt, raced up the ice and beat Carter Hutton by tapping
in his own rebound.
“Just lucky to get a second effort on that one because the first effort didn’t
go in,” Toews said.
Johnny Oduya provided an early score for the Blackhawks, who were coming off a
2-1 overtime loss to Calgary on Wednesday. Corey Crawford made 19 stops.
Crawford will get the start tonight in the finale of a four-game homestand and
lost his only other meeting with the Flyers. He gave up three goals on 33
shots faced.
Chicago forward Kris Versteeg is in line to make his season debut tonight
after sitting out the start of the campaign with a lower-body injury.
The Flyers have won four of five and 10 of their last 12 meetings with the
Blackhawks, but were routed 7-2 in their last trip to Chicago on Dec. 11,
2013.
The ‘Hawks got goals from seven different skaters in that win, with Sharp
adding two assists, Marian Hossa assisting on three goals and Patrick Kane
notched a pair of helpers.
Voracek had a goal for Philadelphia in that loss.
