Flyers-Panthers Preview: Wild Cats for Wildcard

The Flyers have had a couple of days since the bitter ending of Saturday's overtime loss to Carolina to absorb yet another blow in their 2022-23 schedule. Their opponent on Tuesday night played just 24 hours earlier, picked up a win, and finds themselves actively in a playoff spot again.

It is, no doubt, a big game for the Florida Panthers, who are looking for another two points and the possibility of extending their lead for the final wildcard spot as the season enters the final few weeks. Despite the OT loss, Saturday was another game filled with positives for the Flyers, who will look to build on the last two games.

Game time is 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers	GP	G	A	P	Florida Panthers	GP	G	A	P
Travis Konecny	52	27	27	54	Matthew Tkachuk	67	33	62	95
Kevin Hayes	68	17	34	51	Carter Verhaeghe	69	36	27	63
Owen Tippett	64	21	18	39	Aleksander Barkov	56	18	43	61
Scott Laughton	65	15	22	37	Brandon Montour	68	12	46	58
Tony DeAngelo	62	10	26	36	Sam Reinhart	70	26	26	52

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Owen Tippett remained hot in the last couple of games with two assists on Saturday to follow up his first career hat trick on Friday, giving him five points in the last two games.

Matthew Tkachuk enters the game on a five-game points streak with elite numbers. Four of his last five games have been performances with three or more points. Tkachuk also has goals in four straight games.

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Carter Hart is expected to start for the Flyers. Hart made 36 saves on 38 shots in Friday's win against Buffalo to snap a personal two-game losing streak. Hart was stellar against the Panthers in a win on Oct. 27, making 48 saves on 51 shots.

Alex Lyon is expected to start for Florida. Lyon is currently in the backup role for the Panthers and would be making his first start since Jan. 28, when he made 38 saves on 40 shots in a win over Boston. The former Flyers goalie has just five starts at the NHL level this season.

Projected Lineups

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Flyers Scratches: Sean Couturier (injury), Travis Konecny (injury), Justin Braun (healthy), Kieffer Bellows (healthy), Tanner Laczynski (healthy)

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Panthers Scratches: Patric Hornqvist (injury), Givani Smith (injury), Casey Fitzgerald (healthy)

Lineup Notes

Flyers: The Flyers will go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen as they get a look at Egor Zamula, who was called up on Monday. Tanner Laczynski comes out of the lineup.
Panthers: The Panthers did not have a morning skate after playing on Monday night. There is a chance Sergei Bobrovsky starts in goal on back-to-back nights. Sam Bennett is also questionable after leaving Monday's game in the third period with an injury.

Game Notes

Power Play: Flyers (32nd), Panthers (11th)
Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th), Panthers (27th)
Recent History vs. Panthers
- Oct. 27, 2022 - Flyers 4, Panthers 3 (at PHI)
- Oct. 19, 2022 - Panthers 4, Flyers 3 (at FLA)
Flyers Leaders vs. Panthers
- James van Riemsdyk: 36 GP, 12 G, 12 A, 24 P
- Kevin Hayes: 20 GP, 4 G, 9 A, 13 P
- Rasmus Ristolainen: 27 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 P
- Carter Hart: 7 GP, 3-4-0, 3.10 GAA, .913 SV%
Milestone Watch
- Travis Sanheim needs one assist to reach 100 for his career.
- James van Riemsdyk needs two goals to reach 300 for his career.