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Flyers-Senators preview: Can the Sens take on the flu and the Flyers?

The Flyers will experiment by paring their two most touted defensemen, Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere, on the first line.

Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov passes the puck against the Nashville Predators on Thursday, October 19, 2017 in Philadelphia.
Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov passes the puck against the Nashville Predators on Thursday, October 19, 2017 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
    by Sam Donnellon | Columnist
    Published 

Flyers flew: Senators have caught one.

  1. The flu is wreaking havoc on the Senators as they complete their five-game homestand Thursday night against the Flyers. Out with the bug is top center Kyle Turris, and most of the rest of the team, according to Guy Boucher, their coach, is under the weather. Ottawa was already without Zack Smith and Cherry Hill's own Bobby Ryan (broken finger) due to injuries, and were also obliged to send top prospect Logan Brown back to his junior team in Windsor. The Senators have won just once in their previous four games of this homestand, frittering away leads against Los Angeles and New Jersey. The Flyers will experiment by paring their two most touted defensemen, Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere, on the first line. Rookie Nolan Patrick, who left Tuesday's game after a shoulder to shoulder hit bounced him off the glass, returned to practice Wednesday and is expected to play. The Senators have the league's best penalty killing so far. The Flyers power play is ranked 11th. Michal Neuvirth, who owns the league's best goals against average and save percentage, is expected to start for the fourth time this season

How to watch and follow the game.

  1. TV: NBC Philadelphia 7:30

  2. RADIO – 97.5 FM

  3. Twitter: @BroadStBull @samdonnellon

Key contributors:

  1. Flyers: Wayne Simmonds (6 goals, 9 points), Claude Giroux (5 goals, 11 points), Jakub Voracek (12 assists),  Sean Couturier (6 goals, 7 points, plus-9), Shayne Gostisbehere (1-10-11),  Valterri Filppula (4 goals, 6 points)

  2. Ottawa: Derel Brassard (6 goals, 10 assists), Mark Stone (5 goals, 9 points), Erik Karlsson (6 points)

Head to Head

The Flyers hold a slim edge in the all-time series, 38-40-8-4. They won the season series with the Senators last year, winning two games and losing in overtime in the third. They oustcored Ottawa in those game 8-7.

Flyers coming games

  1. @Toronto Oct. 28

  2. Arizona Oct. 30