"The special teams were a big factor in the game the last time we played them," coach John Hynes said. "So, we have had a heavy focus on that, if we get some opportunities on the power play we have to do a better job than we did. We've got to be more threatening. You can't guarantee you're going to score goals but it's got to give us momentum."
As for playing in the afternoon, Hynes says it's a nice change of pace.
"It always seems like the players have good energy," Hynes said. "The game day routine is shorter. You wake up, you eat, you come to meetings and then you're ready to play. It's a nice break in the schedule from the monotony of the 7 o'clock games and the long game-day routine. I think it's exciting for the guys, I know our group likes it, so hopefully they show that on the ice.
Keith Kinkaid will make his third consecutive appearance in net, after posting two victories in his previous two starts.
"It's a great opportunity for him," Hynes said. "It's something that when you're in Keith's position, where sometimes you go some stretches where you don't have an opportunity to play, that when you do get in you want to be able to contribute to the team winning and he's certainly done that."
Kinkaid will be backed up by Ken Appleby, as Cory Schneider is still not well enough to dress. Schneider skated early Friday morning, but is not yet well enough to back up.
Taylor Hall, who missed practice on Friday for a maintenance day, will play and take his regular spot on the top line with Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt. Hynes is happy to have his services in what should be an intense rivalry game.
"Philly has got a really good team, and a lot of their top guys are playing really well," Hynes said. "We need our guys to be able to match or exceed what those guys do on their side."
Here's Saturday's lineup:
Hall-Hischier-Bratt
Johansson-Zajac-Stafford
Wood-Zacha-Palmieri
Gibbons-Boyle-Noesen
Greene-Vatanen
Moore-Severson
Butcher-Lovejoy
Kinkaid
Appleby
