The Flyers kick off the 2014 preseason Monday night in two different places … at the exact same time. This makes us feel funny, because we are mere mortals who can only be in one place at one time, yet we want to watch the Flyers in every possible way. Somehow, we will survive this. I do not know how, but we will make it.
Ian Laperriere and Gord Murphy will coach a group in Canada for one of the games, in which they’ll technically “host” the Toronto Maple Leafs at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario. The other group will remain in Philadelphia and will play host to the Washington Capitals at Wells Fargo Center, coached by Craig Berube.
TV and radio details for both games are available below.
The lineup in Toronto
We’re not terribly sure what the Toronto lineup will look like for the Flyers. Anthony Stolarz will be in goal against former Phantoms netminder Cal Heeter, who wasn’t offered a contract with the organization this past summer. Stolarz, who will likely be the Phantoms starting goaltender this coming season, played his junior hockey in London and will be making his homecoming.
Other than that, line combos are up in the air since there was no morning skate for that group. We know that Matt Read, Sean Couturier and Wayne Simmonds will all be in Toronto, likely as a unit. Michael Del Zotto and Nick Schultz will be there as well, and the rest of the roster is not confirmed.
The lineup in Philadelphia
We do know exactly what we’re getting on home ice tonight in South Philly, since there was a morning skate. Bill Meltzer tweeted out the line rushes we saw this morning, and they are as follows:
Andrew Gordon – Brayden Schenn – Jake Voracek
R.J. Umberger – Vincent Lecavalier – Petr Straka
Taylor Leier – Blair Jones – Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Brett Hextall – Chris VandeVelde – Derek Mathers
Andrew MacDonald – Braydon Coburn
Travis Sanheim – Mark Streit
Robert Hagg – Shayne Gostisbehere
Ray Emery
Rob Zepp
Those defensive pairings are intriguing for a number of reasons. Two top prospects together, last year’s top draft pick with an NHL vet, and a pairing that we’re expecting to be the Flyers top pairing this regular season. Lots to watch for tonight, and this one will be on TV in the Delaware Valley, so that’s good.
As for our coverage, we’ll have Charlie O’Connor on press row for the Philly game … and, well, if you’re in Toronto and have the ability to watch the Canada game, feel free to share your observations over in the FanPosts section.
Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers
7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia
Local TV: Comcast Network in Philly, CSN Washington in DC
Local Radio: none in Philly, WFED 1500 in DC
National: No national TV or radio coverage
***
Toronto Maple Leafs at Philadelphia Flyers
7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Budweiser Gardens in London, Ont., Canada
Local TV: none in Philly, Leafs TV in TOR
Local Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic (PHI), TSN 1050 (TOR)
National: No national TV or radio coverage
