Jakub Voracek and the (17-18-1) Columbus Blue Jackets come into Philly to take on the (13-18-8) Philadelphia Flyers. Seeing Voracek return to the Wells Fargo Center wearing another team’s sweater will be odd at first, but I’m sure #93 will get a ton of loud applauses from the Philly crowd tonight. You can catch the game at 7 pm on NBCSP. 

Carter Hart gets the start in goal for the Flyers. Hart is currently 7-12-5 on the season with a 2.93 GAA and a .916 SV%. I like Yeo getting Hart right back out there after giving the team every opportunity to win that game against the Islanders on Tuesday.

Tuesday Night

Speaking of that horrid 9-round shootout night, was it just more or were the Islanders eventually tying the game up just bound to happen at some point? Especially on a weird angle goal like that after Carter Hart played a solid game, it’s like clockwork.

Konecny, Giroux, Atkinson, Farabee, Laughton, Frost, van Riemsdyk, Mayhew (what?), and Provorov all missed their shots. Mayhew getting a look over a guy like York who is pretty silky in around the net is pretty odd to me, but that should be the least of my worries about that CHL shootout I watched.

I’m surprised Hart didn’t grab a stick, head for center ice, and decide to end the game himself. Hell, I would’ve applauded the hustle and who knows, maybe he surprises everyone and claps a bullet past Varlamov? 

Voracek Back in Philly

It’ll definitely be odd to see Voracek in the arena without him wearing a Flyers jersey. Jakub currently has 1G-24A-25P in 34 games and I’m fully expecting him to collect his 2nd goal of the year because that’s usually how these things go for the Flyers.

In the end, I do believe (so far) both teams have made out the way they wanted with that July 24th trade.

Columbus receives a veteran playmaker that can QB a power play on the right-wall and feed Laine all day long. Voracek is currently 38th in the NHL in power play points with 11. 

The Flyers get a shoot-first winger that costs $2.4 million less and brings a different type of skillset in that top six. Atkinson currently has 15G-14A-29P in 39 games and has been nothing but all in with Philadelphia since he found out he was going to be a Flyer.

In his media availability before tonight’s game, Atkinson said that he was “Born to wear a Flyers jersey”. I have loved everything about what he has brought to this organization on and off the ice this season. 

Flyers Lineup against CBJ

Joel Farabee – Claude Giroux – Cam Atkinson 

Oskar Lindblom – Scott Laughton – Travis Konecny 

James van Riemsdyk – Morgan Frost – Gerry Mayhew 

Max Willman – Connor Bunnaman – Zack MacEwen

Ivan Provorov – Justin Braun 

Cam York – Travis Sanheim 

Keith Yandle – Rasmus Ristolainen

Carter Hart

Brassard Update

Derick Brassard is still unfortunately dealing with that hip issues that he suffered in the Novemeber 23rd game against Tampa Bay. However, he was on the ice (in another colored sweater) during practice today, so that’s definitely a step in the right direction. 

Brassard has tried to come back and test the hip twice already. Once on December 8th vs New Jersey and the second time on January 6th.

With Hayes now out for at least a month, getting Brassard back healthy would be a nice addition to this group. 

Parx Sportsbook

The Flyers to upset Voracek in his return to Philly is currently -125 on Parx Sportsbooks. Both teams The Jackets are 2-3 in their last 5 games and the Flyers are one game away from going on two 10-game losing streaks before the All-Star break. 

Mandatory Credit: (Derik Hamilton/AP)