Game 66 Preview: Flyers vs. Sharks
The Philadelphia Flyers (33-24-8) will host the San Jose Sharks (16-40-7) at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday evening. Game time is 7:00 p.m. EDT.
John Tortorella will serve the first game of a two-game suspension for refusing to leave the bench area after receiving a game misconduct in Saturday's game in Tampa. Side note: U.S. Hockey Hall Fame member Paul Stewart, who refereed more than 1,000 NHL games and counts both Tortorella and NHL ref Wes McCauley -- the two principles in Saturday's controversy -- among his friends, offered his perspectives yesterday on HockeyBuzz. It's a good read:
Click here.
Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim, who has posted 11 points over his last 13 games, took a maintenance day off from practice on Monday. He returned for Tuesday's morning skate and is expected to be OK to play after briefly leaving Saturday's game. Egor Zamula (illness) also took part in today's skate. As long as Zamula is able to play, the services of Adam Ginning (on an emergency recall in case the Flyers can otherwise only dress five defensemen again) will not be necessary against San Jose.
Lineups will be posted as a blog update shortly before game time. For an in-depth game preview looking at team trends, keys to avoiding a letdown game against a bottom end opponent that beat Philly earlier this season, players to watch on both sides and more, see 5 Things on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com:
Click here.
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Quick Hits: March 12, 2024
1) Yesterday on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com, I wrote an update article on the Flyers' 2023 Draft class, giving capsule updates on each draftee's 2023-24 season:
Click here.
2) The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (25-23-7), after winning the latter two games of a 3-in-3 weekend gauntlet, have pulled even in points with the Springfield Thunderbirds (26-26-5) in the battle for the final Calder Cup playoff spot in the AHL's Atlantic Division. The Phantoms are still officially in seventh place via tiebreaker (25 regulation wins to 21, which, coincidentally is the same current tiebreaker differential in the NHL between the Flyers and New York Islanders should it become necessary).
The Phantoms, however, hold two games in hand over Springfield. Lehigh Valley has 17 games remaining in their schedule, while the Thunderbirds have 15. Last place Bridgeport (10 points behind both the Phantoms and Thunderbirds with 15 games remaining) is realistically out of the chase. As such, the Phantoms control their own destiny from here on out. Secure at least one more than Springfield the rest of the way, and the Phantoms are in the playoffs.
On Wednesday, the Phantoms visit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (29-20-8). Ian Laperriere's club then faces back-to-back road game against the Providence Bruins (35-17-5) on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, Springfield is idle until they play Saturday and Sunday road games against the Charlotte Checkers (28-22-6 overall, 6-2-2 in their last 10 games).
Next Wednesday, the Phantoms and Springfield will clash head-to-head at the PPL Center in Allentown. If Lehigh Valley takes care of business before then -- which won't be easy, especially in Providence -- they will leapfrog the Thunderbirds even without help from an inconsistent Charlotte team that is 6-2-2 over its last 10 games.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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