We’re entering the home stretch folks and that means that some teams are vying for the playoffs and some are looking to get the best draft pick possible. The Philadelphia Flyers are hovering in no man’s land. The Flyers are still clinging to the third spot in the Metropolitan Division. With 74 points, the Flyers are two points ahead of the New York Islanders, though the Isles have two games in hand. If the Flyers make the playoffs, it could be by the skin of their teeth.
The reason we’re not positive the Flyers will make the playoffs is Philly was sellers at the trade deadline. Philadelphia management traded one of the team’s top defensemen in Sean Walker and took back Ryan Johansen. Philly also acquired Erik Johanson and Denis Gurianov. The top scorer for the Flyers is Travis Konecny with 54 points in 59 games. Konecny also leads the team with 27 goals.
The last time these two teams met, San Jose had lost eleven games in a row to start the season. The team was struggling to find its first win and the Flyers came along at just the right time. San Jose struggled to score but managed to get the two goals necessary to win in regulation. Poor Philly became the first team in the NHL to lose to the Sharks.
Fast forward to now, where 52 games later and the two teams will meet again, this time in Philadelphia.
The Sharks are in only a slightly better position than the team was 52 games ago. Of course, San Jose just snapped a nine game losing streak with a win over the Ottawa Senators, so Philly won’t become the balm on an open wound that the Flyers were last time. San Jose’s standing in the league, however, isn’t much better than it was before. The Sharks are in a race to the bottom with Chicago. While both teams have 39 points, the Sharks have played two fewer games than the Blackhawks.
The Flyers will be without John Tortorella behind the bench. Torts was suspended for two games and fined $50,000 because he refused to leave Saturday’s game after he was ejected. He spent a lot of time telling the refs to eff off and yelling before he finally left. Definitely worth the watch if you haven’t seen it already.
Flyers coach John Tortorella wouldn't leave after getting tossed 😂 pic.twitter.com/YNDaCzwFyZ
— Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) March 10, 2024
San Jose Sharks lines March 12, 2024
Earlier today, San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng posted a video of Thomas Bordeleau and William Eklund taking faceoffs against each other.
Eklund vs. Bordeleau on the draw pic.twitter.com/q6XDmeC7xj
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) March 12, 2024
It will be something to keep an eye on as we get closer to the end of the season. Bordeleau was drafted as a center and given the lack of healthy centers for the Sharks at the moment, he might be called into action at some point.
Here’s what The Daily Faceoff reports the lines will look like for the Sharks today. Looks like Magnus Chrona gets the start over Devin Cooley.
Forwards
Alexander Barabanov – Mikael Granlund – Fabian Zetterlund
Filip Zadina – William Eklund – Luke Kunin
Thomas Bordeleau – Nico Sturm – Klim Kostin
Givani Smith – Ryan Carpenter – Justin Bailey
Defensemen
Mario Ferraro – Kyle Burroughs
Henry Thrun – Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Jacob MacDonald – Calen Addison
Goaltenders
Magnus Chrona
Devin Cooley
Flyers lines vs. Sharks
Our friends at Broad Street Hockey report that Travis Konecny will be back on the ice at Wells Fargo Center for the first time in almost a month. He missed time with an upper body injury. Here’s what Broad Street reports the lines will look like for the Flyers:
Forwards
Tyson Foerster – Sean Couturier – Travis Konecny
Joel Farabee – Scott Laughton – Owen Tippett
Noah Cates – Ryan Poehling – Garnet Hathaway
Denis Gurianov – Morgan Frost – Bobby Brink
Defensemen
Cam York – Travis Sanheim
Marc Staal – Ronnie Attard
Egor Zamula – Erik Johnson
Goaltenders
Sam Ersson
Felix Sandstrom
How to watch Sharks at Flyers March 12, 2024
Sharks fans can watch today’s game on NBCSCA. You can also listen on the Sharks Audio Network, sjsharks.com/listen.
Flyers fans can watch the game on NBCSP or listen on 97.5 The Fanatic.
You can also see the game on ESPN+ or Hulu, though blackout restrictions may apply.
The puck drops at 4:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. ET at Wells Fargo Center.
Be sure to join us here at game time to talk to other Sharks fans about what’s happening on and off the ice.
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