







There’s plenty to be excited about with the projected lines for tonight’s battle with the Vegas Golden Knights. Here’s a look at each line with my comments and concerns as we move down the list. Note that the defensive pairings were not in “lineup” order.





1st Line: Van Riemsdyk – Giroux – Voracek

Even though I am a big fan of Giroux playing wing over center, this line makes sense to me. With all the chances that JVR (James Van Riemsdyk) has made for himself up to this point in the season, it seems as if Coach Vigneault believes that sticking him with Giroux will get those chances to reflect on the scoreboard. Having Voracek on this line is my main concern, this line is all offensive tempo with limited defensive upside. Voracek is not the most responsible with the puck away from entering the zone, and even with that, he can be careless. I have this thought that Coach V thinks that Voracek will play at a better level with Giroux centering his line. It’s hard to argue with that considering the production Giroux tends to get out of his linemates. If this line ends up being on the scoresheet, it far outweighs the concerns of defense here, as these are all guys that need to ramp up their point production.





2nd Line: Lindblom – Couturier – Konecny

Call me crazy, but this might be the best line possible on the roster. Couturier has developed into an elite level two-way forward that is as strong in the defensive end as he is in the offensive end. The compliment of Lindblom gives this line a guy that always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Lindblom’s hockey IQ shines and is recognized by everyone in the locker room regularly. The defensive mindfulness that Lindblom and Coots (Sean Couturier) both possess will allow our most productive forward, TK (Travis Konecny) to fly around the ice doing what he does best; stirring up shit and burying the puck in the net. I expect this line to be buzzing tonight and feel bold enough to say that they will be carrying the game on their backs.





3rd Line: Laughton – Hayes – Farabee

It’s not perfect, but it’s better. Any line is better with Hayes centering. Hayes has shown his patience, strength, puck control, and vision up to this point in the season. Showing flashes of greatness on offense and defense, he has shown many doubters why he was paid the amount he was paid. Laughton in my opinion is still a 4th line forward, but he has the potential to play up a line when needed, and apparently its needed tonight. Would have rather seen Twarynski stay up in the NHL for this line, but this is what we are going to be dealing with throughout the season (players going up and down until we get a concrete lineup). Last but not least, 2018 first round pick, Joel Farabee. Scoring 4 points (3G, 1A) in just 4 games down with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Farabee quickly showed that he was ready for the club from the start, at least we hope. Now I’m not expecting to come out and score a hat trick, but I think with Hayes setting the kid up while he’s flying around, he might be able to pick up his first NHL point tonight. Time will tell, and the kid isn’t done developing yet.

















4th Line: Raffl – Vorobyev – Stewart

I’m scratching my head at Stewart playing tonight. Unless he plans on fighting Ryan Reaves, which I encourage him not to, Stewart is taking a spot tonight from someone that could actually produce on the scoreboard (*cough cough* Twarynski). You get what you get with this 4th line. It’s not flashy, it’s not even particularly “Gritty.” It’s just kind of an okay 4th line. Even Raffl playing on the 3rd makes more sense and having Laughton on the 4th. Maybe Coach V and Chuck Fletcher know something that I don’t.





Defensive Parings (putting them in order of how I project them)





1st Pairing: Provorov – Niskanen

This in theory, looks really good on paper. Matt Niksanen has shown that he can still move the puck at a high level. Provorov has also solidified his spot here in Philly as our “#1 shutdown” defenseman. It hasn’t worked flawlessly yet this season, but the relationship between the two is still forming and I have high hopes still. Hopefully Niskanen doesn’t get undressed tonight like he did against Dallas (yikes).





2nd Pairing: Sanheim – Braun

Let me start by saying, I WANT TO LOVE THIS SO BAD, but I can’t. I was excited for the Braun trade, I really was. He’s a defensively responsible guy, that isn’t too flashy, but generally gets the job done. Up to this point, I’m not impressed. I know that it’s early in the season, but it’s painful to watch this guy play sometimes. Sanheim isn’t off to a great start, but Sanheim is also more offensive than defensive, and hasn’t been able to get many chances thus far. He’s the type of player that will eventually get hot as time will tell. In the meantime, he needs to focus on picking up his other half’s slack, or it could get real ugly back there.





3rd Pairing: Gostisbehere – Hagg

So, yeah… Ghost (Gostisbehere) needs to figure himself out. I love the kid to death, own his jersey, and have even gone as far to say that he could be a top scoring defenseman in this league. But holy fuck does he look bad thus far. He’s hitting the net more often it seems, but he’s also turning it over in inopportune times and missing passes that just leave me screaming. Please Ghost, for all of us, put one in the net and get your confidence back. You’re arguably one of the best skating defensemen in the league, and all of your talent is being buried by your mental mistakes. Hagg hasn’t looked terrible to this point to my surprise, and good for him. He’s playing sound and quiet hockey, which is exactly what I want out of a player of his “caliber.”





Thoughts Leading into Tonight’s Game





We’re catching Vegas on Game 2 of a road trip. Vegas just beat the Penguins the other night 3-0 in Pittsburgh in a game where the Penguins out shot them 29-24. This is a trend that I’m not a fan of, however, Pittsburgh had also just played the night before.





Our powerplay has to be better tonight. Going 0 for 4 on the powerplay in a game where you dominated in shots and game tempo is pathetic. Hopefully these new lines make for more powerplay changes.





The penalty kill didn’t look great against Dallas, but Dallas is also an extremely talented team and in hindsight, the penalty kill didn’t look horrible.





As much as I want Hart in the net tonight, we have Elliott playing. Whatever. Why would we want our young STARTING goaltender to work it out in net tonight and get over his performance from Saturday?





Score Prediction: Flyers lose 4-3 in OT.





Prove me wrong boys, please…