Hart, Flyers eager to play game that counts
The media mathematicians figure that when they face off against the Boston Bruins Sunday at 3 o’clock inside a Toronto bubble, it will have been 143 days since the Flyers’ last game.
And they’re still calling same season.
“Obviously, it’s been a while,” Kevin Hayes said after a practice Saturday. “Especially the way we left off as a team. We’ve been trying our hardest to get back there. It’s exciting. Games are starting to matter. We can practice as much as you want, but nothing really emulates a game. I know all the guys are really excited.”
Indeed this game against the team that should be the No. 1 seed based on actual record rather than a cheap “mini-tournament,” and two other games later in the week against the Capitals and Lightning, are said to count for the NHL’s Return To Play program. But they’re only precursors to an almost real Stanley Cup playoff, which would start in another week or so, with the Flyers being seeded anywhere from first to fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Since all games before the final round are to be played in the bubbly confines of Scotiabank Arena in Toronto before no fans, well, that’s why it’s only almost real.
But no less exciting ...
“We got into a game there on Tuesday which was nice (just) to get back into playing a game,” said Flyers goalie Carter Hart, referring to an exhibition against the Penguins. Now Hart will be starting what will be called his first NHL playoff game Sunday, even if it isn’t. But no less exciting ...
“It’s been (almost) five months for all of us,” Hart said. “We’re all in the same boat, coming into this bubble and having not played a game of hockey in a long time or at least a meaningful hockey game. Tomorrow will be nice to get out there.
“I’m sure the emotions will be high, being our first game. We’re playing for something. We’re
it the
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEEDING ROUND:
Boston and Philadelphia square off as part of a round-robin tournament that includes the top four seeds in the conference to determine seeds.
The Bruins are 26-9-9 in Eastern Conference games. Boston averages 9.7 penalty minutes per game, the sixth-most in the league. Brad Marchand leads the team serving 82total minutes. The Flyers are 16-4-4 against opponents from the Metropolitan Division and are eighth in the league recording 8.8 points per game, averaging 3.3 goals and 5.5 assists.
BOTTOM LINE:
TOP PERFORMERS:
David Pastrnak leads the Bruins with 48 goals and has 95 points. Marchand has five goals and eight assists over the last 10 games for Boston. Travis Konecny leads the Flyers with 61 points, scoring 24 goals and collecting 37 assists. Kevin Hayes has six goals and three assists over the last 10 games.
playing to improve our seeding. It’ll be nice to just get out there and play an intense hockey game.”
The Flyers are healthy, the Bruins not so much. Brad Marchand, seemingly hurt in the B’s exhibition against Columbus, is reportedly expected to play. But goalie Tuukka Rask is dealing with a hand injury and could miss the game, so Jaroslav Halak, no slouch for a backup, likely will play against the Flyers.
Judging by practice Saturday, they will be going without Joel Farabee and Shayne Gostisbehere, who will be healthy scratches. This after The Ghost played what appeared to be a solid exhibition against the Penguins.
“I really like the depth we have on defense and Shayne is obviously a part of that,” defensive assistant coach Mike Yeo said. “(Phantoms grad) Mark Friedman played a heck of a game last game as well. In a perfect world, we will get everybody in. We’ll get everybody in more often. I can say that we’ve obviously discussed these things, but I also think we have to be pretty fluid with our plan moving forward.”