Aside from the home opener against the New Jersey Devils, the Flyers schedule has been entirely against Western Conference opponents. That is about to change.

The Flyers next 14 games are against Eastern Conference teams, including eight within the Metropolitan Division, a big chance to show how they stack up within a highly competitive group of teams all vying for playoff spots this season.

The first game comes on Saturday night, when the Flyers return home to face the Columbus Blue Jackets, who enter the game on a six-game points streak. Game time is at 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia FlyersGPGAPColumbus Blue JacketsGPGAP
Travis Konecny84711Pierre-Luc Dubois10426
Oskar Lindblom8527Seth Jones10156
Sean Couturier8235Cam Atkinson10325
Ivan Provorov8235Gustav Nyquist10235
Claude Giroux 8145Alexander Wennberg10235
Player to Watch
14 Sean Couturier13 Cam Atkinson
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 3 A, 4 P, -2Last 5 Games: 1 G, 2 A, 3 P, +1
Sean Couturier had a four-game points streak snapped on Thursday, but his linemates continued their hot start to the season. This has been the most effective group among the forwards so far, so look for them to continue their run of success with Couturier trying to find his way back onto the scoresheet.
Cam Atkinson has just three goals in 10 games after scoring 41 last season, but his last goal was a game-winner in overtime in a 4-3 win over the Hurricanes. With points in three of his last four games, Atkinson is starting to heat up.
Projected Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott70 Joonas Korpisalo
4 GP, 2-1-0, 2.09 GAA, .933 SV%8 GP, 5-2-1, 2.72 GAA, .901 SV%

Brian Elliott has put together back-to-back solid starts against Vegas and Chicago and for that gets another start against Columbus on Saturday night. The Flyers do have a back-to-back this weekend, so Elliott was always slated to get one of the games, but it makes sense to ride the hot hand entering Saturday.

Joonas Korpisalo is no longer the backup in Columbus, making eight starts in the team's first 10 games. He has wins in four of the last five starts, but has allowed three goals in each of the last three starts.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Nolan Patrick

Scratches: Sam Morin, Tyler Pitlick

Left WingCenterRight Wing
25 James van Riemsdyk28 Claude Giroux93 Jake Voracek
23 Oskar Lindblom14 Sean Couturier11 Travis Konecny
21 Scott Laughton13 Kevin Hayes49 Joel Farabee
12 Michael Raffl24 Mikhail Vorobyev44 Chris Stewart
Defense
9 Ivan Provorov15 Matt Niskanen
6 Travis Sanheim61 Justin Braun
53 Shayne Gostisbehere8 Robert Hagg
Goalie
37 Brian Elliott79 Carter Hart

Lineup Notes

The Flyers will go with the same lineup as Thursday. It did appear that Michael Raffl, who exited Thursday's game in the final minute after blocking a shot in serious pain, was going to miss some time, but x-rays were negative and he was able to take the morning skate on Saturday morning with no issues.

Blue Jackets Projected Lineup

Injuries: Markus Nutivaara, Brandon Dubinsky

Scratches: Jakob Lilja, Dean Kukan

Left WingCenterRight Wing
71 Nick Foligno18 Pierre-Luc Dubois13 Cam Atkinson
14 Gustav Nyquist10 Alexander Wennberg77 Josh Anderson
 42 Alexandre Texier38 Boone Jenner28 Oliver Bjorkstrand
22 Sonny Milano20 Riley Nash 52 Emil Bemstrom
Defense
8 Zach Werenski3 Seth Jones
27 Ryan Murray4 Scott Harrington
44 Vladislav Gavrikov58 David Savard
Goalie
70 Joonas Korpisalo90 Elvis Merzlinkins

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (T-5th), Blue Jackets (24th)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (20th), Blue Jackets (21st)
  • Recent History vs. Blue Jackets
    • Oct. 18, 2018 - Blue Jackets 6, Flyers 3 (at CBJ)
    • Dec. 6, 2018 - Blue Jackets 4, Flyers 3 (F/OT) (at PHI)
    • Dec. 22, 2018 - Blue Jackets 4, Flyers 3 (at PHI)
    • Feb. 28, 2019 - Blue Jackets 4, Flyers 3 (F/OT) (at CBJ)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Blue Jackets
    • Claude Giroux - 29 GP, 9 G, 19 A, 28 P
    • Travis Konecny - 11 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 P
    • Travis Sanheim - 6 GP, 4 G, 1 A, 5 P
    • Brian Elliott - 12 GP, 6-3-3, 2.40 GAA, .914 SV%
  • Milestone Watch
    • Jake Voracek needs three goals 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.

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