Flyers hope for strong goaltending vs. Senators (Feb 02, 2018)
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers are looking for a solid goaltending performance to pull them out of a three-game losing streak.
The Ottawa Senators are hoping rookie right winger Colin White can fill the skates of injured forward Bobby Ryan and help them string together back-to-back wins for the first time since Jan. 5 and 6.
Michal Neuvirth, who allowed five unanswered goals in a 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals, is expected to return to the nets on Saturday against the Senators, who will turn to Craig Anderson, who has lost four straight since his last victory on Jan. 10.
Neuvirth is expected to start in place of Brian Elliott, whose lower body injury is expected to keep him out until the Flyers return to action on Tuesday. The Flyers have allowed 14 goals in their three-game losing streak.
"It's about getting back on the horse," Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "There's a lot of hockey left."
The Flyers labored through a 10-game losing streak (0-5-5) earlier this season but this is the first time they've lost three in a row in regulation. Before Friday night's action, they were holding onto the final wild-card spot with a 24-19-8 record.
The Senators, on the other hand, have been a major disappointment with a 16-24-9 record, ahead of only the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference.
They may face several games without Ryan, who scored a goal Thursday night but left the game after gloving a puck with his hand.
"It's not broken. It's the same thing that's flared up again," Boucher said. "That might be a reflection of what's happened all year. We get something positive and then we have to live with something that's not necessarily what we want. That's too bad. He played a terrific game.".
That will mean a promotion to the top line for White, who practiced on Friday on a line with left winger Mike Hoffman and center Matt Duchene.
"When (White's) in, he's in and I want to give him ice time like I've done before," Senators coach Guy Boucher told the Ottawa Sun. "He's either going to be with us this weekend and playing or he's going to be in (AHL) Belleville, getting the right ice time for the right reasons."
Flyers coach Dave Hakstol has tried a few different line combinations in recent games.
On Wednesday against Washington, rookie Nolan Patrick played between wingers Jake Voracek and Wayne Simmonds.
On Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, Scott Laughton was moved from the fourth line to the third, skating with Michael Raffl and Jordan Weal.
Valtteri Filppula found himself between Taylor Leier and Jori Lehtera on a third line.
"Little bit of a reward for Scotty," Hakstol said.
Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson will be playing in his 601st NHL game. At 27, he said he hopes to double that number before he hangs up his skates.
"I'm very fortunate to have been able to play a lot of games in this league," he said. "It's not an easy thing to do at all times, but I'm looking forward to maybe play another 600."
Karlson ranks fifth among active defensemen with 122 goals and 368 assists for 190 points.
