The Philadelphia Flyers hit the road looking to get back on track after two blowout losses against the Tampa Bay Lightning to end a four-game homestand. Philadelphia has now lost three games in a row, going back to the overtime defeat against Toronto, and could be staring a five-game losing streak in the face if they lose tonight, as they\u2019re just 2-3-1 in the second half of back-to-backs this season.<\/p>\n
The Flyers did get some good news on Wednesday morning, though, with defenseman Jamie Drysdale set to return from a four-game absence after suffering an upper-body injury last Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Drysdale returning won\u2019t be the only change to the Flyers\u2019 combinations, however, as Rick Tocchet has shaken things up ahead of Wednesday night\u2019s game in Buffalo.<\/p>\n
Flyers unveil new lineup as Jamie Drysdale is back from injury<\/p>\n
Per The Inquirer\u2019s Jackie Spiegel<\/a>, here were the Flyers\u2019 lines at their morning skate:<\/p>\n Trevor Zegras \u2013 Christian Dvorak \u2013 Travis Konecny Spiegel noted that the lines were in no particular order, so we used some discretion.<\/p>\n Notably missing from these combinations is rookie Denver Barkey, who Tocchet confirmed<\/a> will be out for tonight\u2019s game despite there being some game-time decisions. Barkey came out of the gates hot in the NHL, but has been slightly less noticeable in recent games. It\u2019s unfortunate for Barkey, who played junior hockey just across the border in London, but perhaps a reset can recharge his battery for Thursday night in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n The only lines sticking together as combinations are the Dvorak line and the Abols line. That Zegras \u2013 Dvorak \u2013 Konecny line is now the Flyers\u2019 most-used trio this season. They\u2019ve played 191 minutes together at 5-on-5, per Money Puck<\/a>, with an expected goals share of 48.2% while outscoring the opposition 11-10.<\/p>\n The fourth line has also spent plenty of time together, racking up 99 minutes over the course of 15 games.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most interesting change to the lineup, or at least where most attention will be, is where Matvei Mickhov is playing. Tocchet hasn\u2019t given Michkov consistent linemates this season, and the Russian winger\u2019s play has been inconsistent as well.<\/p>\n Michkov had played 97 minutes with Couturier and Konecny as a line, and 61 minutes with Couturier and Tippett. The winger and center have some familiarity from both this and last season.<\/p>\n
Matvei Michkov \u2013 Sean Couturier \u2013 Carl Grundstrom
Nikita Grebenkin \u2013 Noah Cates \u2013 Owen Tippett
Nic Deslauriers \u2013 Rodrigo Abols \u2013 Garnet Hathaway<\/p>\n