BROADCAST INFO

LINEUPS

LW	C	RW
Daniel Sedin	Henrik Sedin	Radim Vrbata
Sven Baertschi	Brandon Sutter	Jake Virtanen
Alexandre Burrows	Bo Horvat	Jannik Hansen
Adam Cracknell	Jared McCann	Derek Dorsett

Defensive Pairings
Alexander Edler	Chris Tanev
Dan Hamhuis	Yannick Weber
Ben Hutton	Matt Bartkowski

Aside from Chris Conner being called up from the AHL, not a lot to brag about for the Flyers in their lineup. Led by captain Claude Giroux, he’ll try and get the Flyers back in the win column. Vinny Lecavalier is far from his former self as he patrols the 4th line. Winger Michael “Buy a ticket” Raffl was injured Saturday against the lowly Sabres but should slot in tonight.

Steve Mason (former must have Team Canada Olympic goalie) will start. By the way Steve, how’d that go?

Philadelphia Flyers lines courtesy of Dailyfaceoff:

LW	C	RW
Matt Read	Claude Giroux	Wayne Simmonds
Brayden Schenn	Scott Laughton	Jakub Voracek
Michael Raffl	Sam Gagner	R.J. Umberger
Ryan White	Chris VandeVelde	Vincent Lecavalier

Defensive Pairings
Michael Del Zotto	Mark Streit
Yevgeni Medvedev	Radko Gudas
Nick Schultz	Luke Schenn

REASONS TO WATCH THIS GAME

• I told you its Grizzlies night right? Ok, if you’re watching at home the entire hype of saying that will pass by the time you sit down to watch the game. Come for the fake basketball, stay for your Vancouver Canucks.
• This is cool: Jared McCann and Jake Virtanen are staying with the big club. They’ve been awesome and they’ll only get better. Willie has tough love for these two, but he gave Bo Horvat a chance and so far that has turned out pretty well. The Canucks are changing for the better and it’s about freaking time! (Side note: Ben Hutton also will stay, but he is so good everyone just assumed he had been there forever anyways. So congrats Ben….and Jared…..and Jake.)
• Jared McCann’s goal against Arizona just showed how talented he is. He swivels and backs into position. It’s like he’s holding down the L2 button and just gets where he needs to and bangs it home. Early on McCann is leading the Canucks in goals with 5 and that’s just ONE reason he made the team. There will be plenty more reasons as this season goes on, believe me.
• Alex Burrows is also getting back to being productive and he doesn’t have to be with the Sedins. 2G and 2A in his last 5 including a successful penalty shot have put Burr back into a relevant role. He always brings it and once again he’s being rewarded for it. Love that line with him, Horvat and Hansen. It has tons of potential.
• Jake Virtanen has started his “murders” again and Philly is a team that likes to, well used to, hit. Who or whom might be the lucky recipient this evening? Maybe Luke Schenn or that jabroni RJ Slumberger. With a 7 hit outing against the Habs along with his first NHL point, he’s on his way with ESSO this guy.
• The Flyers will try to stay away from a 4 game losing streak but Ryan Miller has been so good lately and his team in front of him has been the same; don’t expect the Canucks to write this off as just another game. The Pacific division is dreadful this year and it would serve the Canucks best to build the lead up early because…you know what, just do it.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

MY TAKE