NBCSN will continue its coverage of the 2014-15 campaign tonight as the Philadelphia Flyers host the Chicago Blackhawks at Wells Fargo Center, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. In addition to NBCSN, you can also watch the game and pre-show online.
The Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks are facing off tonight, which probably means that hockey fans will think of Michael Leighton for the first time in a long time.
Patrick Kane scored that fabled Stanley Cup-winning goal against Leighton many moons ago (OK, 2010), and neither player will be in the mix on Wednesday. Indeed, the two teams look quite different heading into this one, with Chris Pronger wearing business suits these days.
No doubt about it, these are two teams moving in different directions.
The Blackhawks are really getting their act together as the playoffs approach with a 9-2-1 mark in their last 11 contests, thanks in large part to strong play from Corey Crawford and Jonathan Toews. The Flyers, meanwhile, are fading into the offseason sunset. Philly’s mainly playing for pride (and perhaps head coach Craig Berube’s job).
Even with very different 2014-15 outlooks, there’s enough talent on the ice for this to be a spirited affair.
The Blackhawks tune up with the likes of Toews, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith and less familiar faces fully capable of lighting things up. The Flyers boast the one-two punch of Jakub Voracek + Claude Giroux, a premier power forward in Wayne Simmonds and the under-the-radar great work of Steve Mason.
In other words, the Flyers may have fallen far since Leighton allowed that odd overtime goal to Kane, but tonight’s game still has plenty of potential to entertain.