With the Philadelphia Flyers coming into Ottawa for a game Thursday, the Senators are showing signs of being a good team
Philadelphia Flyers (6-8-2) at Ottawa Senators (8-7-0)
TV: TSN 5. Radio: TSN 1200 AM
TIME: 7 p.m., Thursday
Odds: Senators +116, Flyers -143
BULLIES NO MORE
Do you remember when the Philadelphia Flyers were known as the Broad Street Bullies in the 1970s, striking fear across the league with a roster full of players who could drop anyone with a punch? If Dave “The Hammer” Schultz wasn’t throwing haymakers, you had guys like Don “Big Bird” Saleski or ‘Battleship’ Bob Kelly stepping in. The NHL has evolved a lot since then, and most teams no longer feature “goons” in their regular lineups. This season’s Flyers, in particular, are much more subdued.
TIMMY’S TIME
After a breakout 2022-23 season where he posted 90 points (39 goals, 51 assists), Tim Stützle experienced a dip in his offensive production last year, finishing with 18 goals and 52 assists. However, it seems Stützle has found his rhythm once again. In his first 15 games this season, he’s tallied 7 goals and 13 assists. Despite facing criticism for his “down” year, Stützle used the offseason to refine his play without the puck, a development that’s carried over into his current performance. With 267 career points already, Stützle now holds the record for the most points by a German player after 300 NHL games, surpassing Leon Draisaitl’s 244.
“I worked really hard this summer,” Stützle said. “I wasn’t happy with the way I played last season and how it ended.”
Following a 3-0 win over Toronto on Tuesday, Stützle spoke to TSN 1200’s Gord Wilson, saying, “We gave them no room, and that’s the way we need to play if we want to win more games.”
SITTING A ‘STAR’
Flyers coach John Tortorella recently benched Matvei Michkov, the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, for two games before re-inserting him into the lineup on Monday. The 19-year-old rookie, known for his offensive talent, had registered nine points in his first nine NHL games but struggled with just one point in his previous five contests before the benching. Michkov responded to the change by scoring a goal and adding an assist in his return. Despite the ups and downs, insiders continue to view him as a potential future superstar.
THE NUMBERS GAME
Following a 4-3 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks on Monday, the Flyers now have 44 goals for and 58 against, resulting in a modest minus-14 goal differential. However, there are signs of improvement. Goalie Samuel Ersson has been a standout, going 4-0-1 in his last six starts, posting a solid 2.27 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. Meanwhile, the Senators dominated the Leafs 41-27 in shots on Tuesday, improving their goal differential to +7, with 51 goals scored and 44 allowed.
THE LINEUPS
OTTAWA
Forwards
Tkachuk/Norris/Greig
Giroux/Stutzle/Batherson
Gregor/Pinto/Amadio
Cousins/Gaudette/MacEwen
Defence
Sanderson/Zub
Chabot/Jensen
Kleven/Hamonic
Goalies
Ullmark/Forsberg
PHILADELPHIA
Forwards
Tippett/Couturier/Konecny
Farabee/Laughton/Brink
Richard/Poehling/Michkov
Foerster/Cates/Hathaway
Defence
Andrae/Sanheim
Seeler/Ristolainen
Zamula/Johnson
Goalies
Ersson/Fedotov
