Flyers-Ducks preview: Lindholm, Getzlaf return, Fowler out
The Ducks get back one top defenseman, but lose another heading into their second and last game of the season against the Flyers.
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Anaheim Ducks vs. Flyers at a glance:
Teams: Ducks (3-3-1) vs. Flyers (5-3)
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Wells Fargo Center
TV/online streaming/radio: NBC Sports Philadelphia (NBCSports.com/live), 97.5 FM
Social Media Coverage: Twitter–@BroadStBull; @samdonnellon
KEY PLAYERS: Anaheim's 23-year-old defenseman Hampus Lindholm, who had his labrum surgically repaired after last year's playoffs, is expected to make his season debut. Good timing too, as D-man Cam Fowler, who scored a shorthanded goal in the Flyers 3-2 overtime victory Oct.7 in Anaheim, is out indefinitely after injuring his knee in Friday night's 6-2 victory over Montreal. Ryan Getzlaf, who was out with a lower body injury when the Flyers won that game, is also expected back in the lineup. Defenseman Sami Vatanen, who is also yet to play this season due to a shoulder injury incurred in last season's run, is expected to return soon – but not tonight, said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle.
Flyers coach Dave Hakstol shuffled defensive pairings during Monday's practice in the wake of Andrew MacDonald's apparent knee injury. Robert Hagg will take the place of MacDonald on the top pairing with Ivan Provorov. Shayne Gostisbehere, who has 11 points already this season, will be paired with Radko Gudas, and Travis Sanheim will move to the right side to make room for Brandon Manning, who was a healthy scratch for the previous two games. The Flyers elected to not promote Samuel Morin, their highly touted prospect.
Jordan Weal and Taylor Leier, who missed Saturday's game due to undisclosed injuries, are expected to be back in the lineup. Dale Weise though, is not, after Jori Lehtera assisted on the winning goal Saturday in his first start of the season.
HEAD TO HEAD: This is the second and last meeting of the teams this season. Wayne Simmonds scored 44 seconds into overtime when the Flyers won, 3-2, on Oct.7. The Ducks won both meetings between the two teams last season: A 3-2 victory here on Oct. 20 and a 4-3 shootout victory on New Year's Day in Anaheim. The Ducks hold an all-time 17-8-3 record over the Flyers with five ties. They are 7-4-2 at the Wells Fargo Center.