#6 Philadelphia Flyers (36-28-4, 76 pts) at #7 Nashville Predators (38-26-5, 81 pts)
Bridgestone Arena – 8:00 PM ET – Nashville, TN
TV: CSN Philly HD, Fox Sports Tennessee
Radio: 610 WIP, XM 238
This is the open game thread.
Get the Nashville perspective at On the Forecheck
It’s no secret that Scott Hartnell has been struggling all season long. After scoring against Chicago and showing a lot of fire against New York over the weekend, returning to the city where he was drafted for the first time since being traded away could be another spark that he needs to get his season back on track.
Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen will return to Nashville for the the first time after being traded away in 2007. By all accounts, players love playing in Nashville and the Flyers duo is no different. Of course, Ryan Parent came over from Nashville as well via trade, but he never played in the city.
We broke down the Predators to an extent earlier today here on the site, so there’s really not much to go over. They’re an underachieving team defensively with a weak penalty kill and a currently-strong power play. They spread around the offense quite a bit, so they can hurt you at any time. Throw this on top of the fact that they’re just four points ahead of ninth-place Calgary in the Western Conference playoff race and you have a team that the Flyers cannot overlook.
Let’s hope that with a lot of rest (Lavi cancelled the skate yesterday) and with the bad taste from Sunday in their mouths, the team comes out with guns blazing in this one.
After the jump, questions to answer, lineups, goaltenders and our in-game discussion.
Flyers Line Combinations
Gagne – Richards – Carcillo
Briere – Carter – Hartnell
van Riemsdyk – Giroux – Asham
Powe – Betts – Laperriere
Pronger – Carle
Timonen – Krajicek
Parent – Coburn
Cote, Leino out. Powe, Asham in.
Nashville Line Combinations
Wilson – Arnott – Erat
Sullivan – Goc – Hornqvist
Tootoo – Boyd – Dumont
Ward – Legwand – Smithson
Suter – Weber
Hamhuis – Franson
Bouillion – Klein
Starting Goaltenders
Questions to Answer
- Does Scott Hartnell build upon the solid games he’s put together recently in his Nashville homecoming? What about Kimmo Timonen?
It’s the token question, really: Michael Leighton? - The Nashville PP could hurt the Flyers tonight, according to reports from the Music City. Can the Flyers stay outta the box like they have in recent games?
Tonight’s game is on CSN Philly and 610 WIP. As always, join us here for the conversation and LET’S GO FLYERS!
