The Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks will square off tonight in Chicago at 8:30 on NBCSN. You can also watch the game live online here.
The Flyers (1-2-2) are coming off their first victory of the season, a 6-5 overtime affair against the Dallas Stars on Saturday, according to NBCSports. It wasn't pretty and highlighted the Flyers defensive deficiencies - they've allowed 3.80 goals per game - but they'll be looking to build off it tonight.
"If we can get our game going five-on-five and draw some penalties on them, then we can go to work on the power play," Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds told CSN Philly.
Chicago, 3-0-1 thus far and playing well, will look to continue to stay hot, hoping their firepower can overcome the Flyers blueline. If that's to happen, the Blackhawk's second line of Andrew Shaw, Patrick Kane and Kris Versteeg - who is making his season debut tonight - will need to play stronger on the puck.
"I haven't seen possession," Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville told CSN Chicago. "They've had more shifts in their own end the last few games. I didn't mind them the first few games but the last two haven't been as effective as we've seen."
Chicago will try to defeat the Flyers without starting goaltender Corey Crawford. Crawford has been great to start the season, posting a 1.66 GAA and .926 save percentage. According to Philly.com's Sam Carchidi, Crawford is suffering from an upper-body injury.
Antti Raanta will get the start in his place. The 25-year-old Raanta has a 2.71 GAA and .897 save percentage in 25 career NHL games, per Carchidi. He is 1-0-1 in two career games against the Flyers with a 2.41 GAA and .925 save percentage.
"He's a good goalie and he's going to do the job for them," Philadelphia coach Craig Berube said. "We've got to do what we do - get pucks to the net, traffic, all the little things. It doesn't really change our mindset too much as to what we want to do."
The Flyers meanwhile have been red-hot on the power play thus far this season, capitalizing on 31.8% of its chances, according to NBCSports. On the flip side, they've been awful on the penalty kill, but luckily - or intentionally - they've taken the least minor penalties in the league (12).
Discipline, as is often the case in Philadelphia, will be key.
This game will come down to the Flyers' ability to play strong defense against a high-powered Chicago team and the matchup of the Philly power play against Blackhawks backup goalie, Raanta.
