Philly Leader

John Tortorella's Philadelphia Flyers will face off against Jim Hiller's Los Angeles Kings at the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night. The Flyers, currently standing at 14-14-4, are set to host the Kings, who hold an 18-9-4 record. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST and will be available for streaming on Hulu/ESPN+ and broadcasted on 97.5 The Fanatic with an online simulcast on Flyers Radio 24/7.

This match marks the first of two meetings between these interconference teams this season, with a rematch planned in Los Angeles on December 29.

The Flyers come into this game following a 6-4 road loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Issues such as turnovers and penalties affected their performance, though they managed to show resilience by coming back from deficits during the game.

Meanwhile, the Kings are navigating their fifth game of a seven-game road trip, holding a record of 2-1-1 so far. Their most recent game resulted in a 3-2 overtime loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Five key aspects are worth watching in this matchup:

Firstly, rookie goaltender Aleksei Kolosov is expected to start for the Flyers after performing well last Thursday against Detroit. The Kings have been alternating between David Rittich and veteran Darcy Kuemper in goal.

Secondly, puck management remains crucial for both teams. The Flyers had previously improved their play but regressed during Wednesday’s game in Detroit.

Thirdly, potential changes in line combinations and defensive pairs could impact the Flyers’ strategy. Adjustments were made during Wednesday’s game which may continue into Thursday’s match.

Fourthly, special teams performance has been varied between these clubs. While the Flyers have struggled with penalty killing since Thanksgiving, LA has shown strength in this area recently despite power play challenges.

Lastly, Anze Kopitar remains a significant player for the Kings. At age 37, he continues to lead his team effectively with impressive statistics throughout his career.