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Flyers' Brian Elliott set to face Oilers; Brandon Manning unlikely to play against Connor McDavid

Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvith both struggled against the high-scoring Edmonton Oilers last season.

Brian Elliott and his teammates will have a difficult task on Saturday afternoon.
Brian Elliott and his teammates will have a difficult task on Saturday afternoon.Read moreCHRIS SZAGOLA
    by Sam Carchidi | Columnist
    Published 

Based on Friday's practice in Voorhees, Brian Elliott will get a chance to stop Connor McDavid and Edmonton on Saturday afternoon in the Oilers' only Wells Fargo Center appearance this season.

While playing with Calgary last season, Elliott lost all four games (0-3-1) against Edmonton and had a 3.58 goals-against average and .870 save percentage. He has a 3.25 GAA and .884 save percentage in four starts this year.

Michal Neuvirth, who has been outstanding in his three starts (1.36 GAA, .957 save percentage), allowed six goals in his lone appearance last season against Edmonton.

The Flyers, provided some of their injured forwards can play, are better-suited to match Edmonton's speed this season.

On Thursday, Edmonton (2-4) scored a 2-1 overtime win in Chicago, while the Flyers (4-3) dropped a 1-0 decision to visiting Nashville.

Forget about the well-documented McDavid-Brandon Manning feud/rivalry. It appears Manning will be a healthy scratch Saturday, and Travis Sanheim, coming off a strong performance against Nashville, will remain in the lineup.

The Flyers and Edmonton split a pair of games last season. The Flyers won at home, 6-5, on a goal by Michael Raffl with 1 minute 29 seconds left. The Oilers won the rematch, 6-3, in Edmonton.

McDavid had a goal and two assists in each game.

Wayne Simmonds, who received medical attention to his injured mouth after Thursday's game, and Taylor Leier were given maintenance days Friday and did not practice. Jordan Weal practiced after missing Thursday's game with an undisclosed injury.

At practice Friday, Matt Read took Simmonds' spot on the second line, which included Weal and Val Filppula. Jori Lehtera was on the fourth line.

It appears it will  be a game-time decision on whether Simmonds, Leier and Weal can play Saturday.

The Flyers, who have been shut out twice in six games, are 2-1 on their five-game homestand. After hosting Edmonton, the homestand ends Tuesday against Anaheim.