Flyers at Oilers preview
Hart to make first start with Philadelphia near hometown; Koskinen in goal for Edmonton
by Derek Van Diest / NHL.com Independent Correspondent
FLYERS (2-1-1) at OILERS (5-1-0)
9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN360, NBCSP
The Game
Goalie Carter Hart will make his first NHL start near his hometown when the Philadelphia Flyers play the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Wednesday.
Hart, who turned 21 on Aug. 13, grew up in the Edmonton suburb of Sherwood Park, Alberta and has played more games (31) under the age of 21 than any Flyers goalie. He is 2-0-1 with a 1.62 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and one shutout this season.
The Flyers will play the final game of a three-game road trip through western Canada and the second of a back to back. Philadelphia lost 3-1 at the Calgary Flames on Tuesday and is 0-1-1 on the trip.
The Oilers return home following a four-game road trip. Their five-game winning streak to start the season ended with a 3-1 loss at the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. Edmonton has outscored its opponents 22-16 in its first six games.
Goalie Mikko Koskinen will start for the Oilers.
Players to watch
Flyers right wing Travis Konecny has seven points (three goals, four assists) during a four-game point streak to start the season.
Oilers forward James Neal has scored eight goals, six on the power play, in his first six games. He scored seven goals in 63 games with the Flames last season.
They said it
"We don't have to chew on this one very long, that's good. That's the good thing about back to back. Nobody likes them, but if you lose that first one you get to go after it again the next night. You don't have to think about it too long." -- Flyers defensemen Matt Niskanen
"I got an opportunity and I tried to grab a hold of it. That's all you can ask for and work for, that chance, and that's what I've gotten here and it's been really good so far." -- Oilers forward James Neal
Flyers projected lineup
Claude Giroux -- Kevin Hayes -- James van Riemsdyk
Oskar Lindblom -- Sean Couturier -- Travis Konecny
Tyler Pitlick -- Scott Laughton -- Jakub Voracek
Chris Stewart -- Michael Raffl -- Carsen Twarynski
Ivan Provorov -- Justin Braun
Travis Sanheim -- Matt Niskanen
Robert Hagg -- Shayne Gostisbehere
Carter Hart
Brian Elliott
Scratched: Samuel Morin, Connor Bunnaman
Injured: Nolan Patrick (migraine disorder)
Oilers projected lineup
Leon Draisaitl -- Connor McDavid -- Zack Kassian
Alex Chiasson -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- James Neal
Jujhar Khaira - Riley Sheahan - Patrick Russell
Tomas Jurco -- Markus Granlund -- Josh Archibald
Oscar Klefbom -- Joel Persson
Darnell Nurse -- Ethan Bear
Kris Russell -- Matt Benning
Mikko Koskinen
Mike Smith
Scratched: Brandon Manning, Gaetan Haas
Injured: Adam Larsson (leg), Joakim Nygard (rib)
Status report
The Flyers did not hold a morning skate … Nygard was injured in Chicago and is expected to be out 2-4 weeks.
Stat pack
Niskanen has three points during a three-game point streak (one goal, two assists). … McDavid has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in six games. … Draisaitl also has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) during a six-game point streak to start the season.