Game #24 Preview: Stinger vs Gritty? Crud

Friday, November 27, 2019 – 7:00 EST

Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio

TV: NBCS; Radio: 97.1 FM

Opponent’s Blog: Broad Street Hockey

Philadelphia Flyers (12-7-5, 29 pts, 5^th Metro, 6^th East)

vs.

Columbus Blue Jackets (10-9-4, 24 pts, 7^th Metro, 13^th East)

Philadelphia has been walking the tightrope often of late – after reading the Metro Division update, you’ll be well aware that the Flyers have a bit of an overtime/shootout fetish this season. Sometimes it has turned out sweet for them, but recently it has become sour with three shoot out losses over the last two weeks. However, they are coming off a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek combined their efforts (1g, 1a each) to pull out the win. The Flyers remain in a Wild Card playoff spot but it feels a little flimsy. The quotable Steph Driver joined the podcast this week, if you’d like a cheesesteak view of the rest of the Metro.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are on a pretty good stretch of results – they’ve won 4 of the last 5 games including a 1-0 shutout over Ottawa. It was a bit of a snoozefest, but Joonas Korpisalo earned the first CBJ shutout of the season. The team’s defensive play has been improving for weeks now and Korpi is north of that .900 line. The power play has also picked up of late. But…the full-strength offense is still struggling.  On the bright side, Oliver Bjorkstrand has been the unceasing engine for the forwards and he’s getting rewarded in the point totals (2-5-7 in last 4 games).  I called my shot with my last preview and it landed 500 feet from home plate. This time? Not feeling any particular vibes. Maybe this is the game that the player to watch will wake up?

Player to Watch

Cam Atkinson

23 games. 14 points. 4 goals. None on 5v5 (still).

Yeah, we’re still doing this. Cam Van Winkle. Since the last time I completed a preview, Cam notched a 5v3 goal that he just had to tap into the net and also collected a few secondary assists.  Lately, he’s been unlucky – repeatedly, it’s amazing really – in having pucks roll off his stick or pesky goalies refusing to get out of the way of his shots.  But hey…he HAS to score 5v5 sometimes, right?!  Why do I keep doing this?  I think he HAS to get going if this team is going to rebound…and I might be overly optimistic in my thinking that there is still time to turn things around.

Jackets Notes

Markus Nutivaara has been skating the last few days, hopefully he’s getting close…Zach Werenski is on his own hot streak – 3-6-9 over his 7 game point streak…This is the first game of a very tough Metro trifecta this week. Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders are up next…Elvis is in Cleveland

The Other Bench

Shayne Gostisbehere is apparently struggling a bit…James van Riemsdyk is apparently struggling a bit…Philadelphia Flyers fans apparently think gravy is the best side at Thanksgiving…Jarmo should trade Stinger + Sonny Milano + a pick for Gritty

Season Series

10/26/19 – CBJ @ PHI – 7-4 Loss

11/27/19 – PHI @ CBJ

2/18/19 – CBJ @ PHI

2/20/19 – PHI @ CBJ

Stats

Possible Lineups