Tonight: Flyers at San Jose Sharks

Site: SAP Center/San Jose, Calif.

Time: 10:30 p.m.

TV/Radio: NBCSN/97.5 FM

NHL PREVIEW:Breaking down the 2017-2018 Metropolitan Division

FLYERS PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards

28-Claude Giroux, 14-Sean Couturier, 93-Jake Voracek

40-Jordan Weal, 19-Nolan Patrick, 17-Wayne Simmonds

22-Dale Weise, 51-Valtteri Filppula, 11-Travis Konecny

20-Taylor Leier, 21-Scott Laughton, 12-Michael Raffl

Defensemen

9-Ivan Provorov & 47-Andrew MacDonald

23-Brandon Manning & 3-Radko Gudas

53-Shayne Gostisbehere & 8-Robert Hagg

Goalie

37-Brian Elliott

Injuries/Suspensions

none

SHARKS PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards

62-Kevin Labanc, 19-Joe Thornton, 8-Joe Pavelski

89-Mikkel Boedker, 39-Logan Couture, 27-JoonasDonskoi

36-JannikHansen, 48-Tomas Hertl, 28-Timo Meier

68-Melker Karlsson, 50-Chris Tierney, 42-Joel Ward

Defensemen

7-Paul Martin & 88-Brent Burns

44-Marc-Edouard Vlasic & 61-Justin Braun

4-Brenden Dillon & 74- Dylan DeMelo

Goalie

31-Martin Jones

Injuries/Suspensions

none

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

1. The rookies

It will be the biggest storyline probably all season for the Flyers. Between Nolan Patrick as the second-line center, Taylor Leier on the fourth line and as many as three first-year players on defense, the Flyers will live and die by their rookies this season.

"It struck me (Monday)," coach Dave Hakstol said. "Some of the young guys hanging out together off the plane just before we boarded the team bus. Instead of one or two guys hanging out together, there’s a small group of six or seven guys. That brings a little bit of a different outlook and different energy to the team and I think it’s been really good for our team, veterans included."

2. Giroux on the left

It's still somewhat in project mode, having the captain and former first-line center now be on the left wing.

The line of Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier and Jake Voracek has three players that like to pass the puck and someone needs to shoot. They looked pretty good in preseason, but once the games start to count it's a different story.

3. Goalie matchup

It's somewhat of a guessing game as to who's between the pipes for the Flyers, but indications are that it will be Brian Elliott based on his career splits and Michal Neuvirth's seeing as how they'll split the back-to-back situation.

Elliott has a 6-4-1 record in 13 career games against the Sharks with a 2.56 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. He will face Martin Jones, who will be the No. 1 guy in San Jose again. Jones won both his career games against the Flyers, including a 34-save shutout in November of 2015.