Flyers-Sharks: Game 38 Preview

The Flyers went into the holiday break on a four-game winning streak. While the team's success in the first half of the season has been a welcome sight, there is still that shadow of doubt with the team in a decade that was defined by mediocrity. That would mean that all momentum would be halted by the post-holiday road trip. Since 2014-15, the Flyers have just a 2-11-3 record in the road games that have followed the holiday break.

If the 2019-20 season has been about breaking some old trends and showing a turn for the better, this provides another opportunity to prove it. The Flyers hit the road for six straight games, including five on the West coast. It all starts on Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks, a team that has lost four straight games and 10 of their last 11 entering Saturday's game.

Game time is at 10:30 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers	GP	G	A	P	San Jose Sharks	GP	G	A	P
Travis Konecny	34	11	22	33	Logan Couture	39	12	21	33
Sean Couturier	37	9	20	29	Tomas Hertl	35	14	16	30
Jake Voracek	37	8	19	27	Erik Karlsson	38	4	24	28
Claude Giroux	37	11	14	25	Evander Kane	36	14	12	26
James van Riemsdyk	37	12	11	23	Brent Burns	39	6	19	25

Player to Watch
11 Travis Konecny	39 Logan Couture
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 5 A, 6 P, +2	Last 5 Games: 2 G, 1 A, 3 P, -2

Since making his return from a concussion on Dec. 17, Travis Konecny has posted five points in four games, all assists. The goal scoring should return soon enough, and playing against a team where speed and a tenacious edge can play into your favor, this could be a game where he finds the back of the net again.

The Sharks have struggled this season, but Logan Couture has easily been their most consistent player. He has goals in three of the last six games, but was held without a point in San Jose's loss to the Kings on Friday night.

Projected Goalie Matchup
79 Carter Hart	31 Martin Jones
25 GP, 13-7-3, 2.27 GAA, .916 SV%	28 GP, 12-14-1, 3.29 GAA, .888 SV%

Carter Hart's last game against the Rangers was quietly one of his best. While the Flyers managed to score four times in the final 20 minutes to secure another big win, Hart made 34 saves on 35 shots, the third straight game he has won while allowing just one goal. He gets the start as the Flyers hit the road against the Sharks.

Martin Jones is expected to get the start for the Sharks after getting the night off on Friday against the Kings. Jones has lost six straight starts, allowing three goals or more in five of the six. Jones can go on a successful streak though, as he had won 10 of his previous 11 starts prior to the current losing streak.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Scott Laughton (groin, day-to-day), Michael Raffl (broken finger, out 4 weeks from Dec. 3), Nolan Patrick (migrane disorder, out indefinitely), Oskar Lindblom (Ewing's sarcoma, out for season)

Scratches: Robert Hagg (healthy), Chris Stewart (healthy)

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux	14 Sean Couturier	11 Travis Konecny
25 James van Riemsdyk	13 Kevin Hayes	49 Joel Farabee
62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel	48 Morgan Frost	93 Jake Voracek
10 Andy Andreoff	24 Mikhail Vorobyev	18 Tyler Pitlick
Defense
9 Ivan Provorov	15 Matt Niskanen
6 Travis Sanheim	61 Justin Braun
53 Shayne Gostisbehere	5 Phil Myers
Goalie
79 Carter Hart	37 Brian Elliott

Lineup Notes

Scott Laughton is close to returning to the lineup, but will remain out on Saturday as a precaution. Michael Raffl is closing in on a return, eligible to return from long-term injured reserve on Sunday. Andy Andreoff remains in the lineup despite being placed on waivers on Saturday.

Sharks Projected Lineup

Injuries: Dalton Prout

Scratches: Antti Suomela, Tim Heed

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
9 Evander Kane	39 Logan Couture	23 Barclay Goodrow
28 Timo Meier	48 Tomas Hertl	62 Kevin Labanc
20 Marcus Sorensen	19 Joe Thornton	12 Patrick Marleau
68 Melker Karlsson	46 Joel Kellman	11 Stefan Noesen
Defense
4 Brenden Dillon	88 Brent Burns
44 Marc-Edouard Vlasic	65 Erik Karlsson
51 Radim Simek	38 Mario Ferraro
Goalie
31 Martin Jones	30 Aaron Dell

Game Notes

Power Play: Flyers (T-14th), Sharks (28th)
Penalty Kill: Flyers (7th), Sharks (1st)
Recent History vs. Sharks
- Oct. 9, 2018 - Sharks 8, Flyers 2 (at PHI)
- Nov. 3, 2018 - Sharks 4, Flyers 3 (F/OT) (at SJ)
Flyers Leaders vs. Sharks
- Claude Giroux - 17 GP, 8 G, 6 A, 14 P
- Kevin Hayes - 11 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 P
- Jake Voracek - 24 GP, 3 G, 11 A, 14 P
Milestone Watch
- James van Riemsdyk plays in his 300th game as a Flyer tonight.
- Shayne Gostisbehere needs two points to reach 200 for his career.

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia+
Radio: 93.3 WMMR

Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN and Flyers editor for SportsTalkPhilly.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.