Game 13 Preview: Flyers at Leafs

Who: Philadelphia Flyers (5-6-1; 11) at Toronto Maple Leafs (7-5-0; 14)

What: Game #13 of the 2013 Season

Where: The ACC in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

When: 7pm, SNET-O in TO, CSN-PH in Philly

Why: Because for too long the Flyers have held onto the title of Broad Street Bullies, and it's high time the Leafs take it as their own.

Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets: Because wouldn't it be great to watch?

Would you have guessed that coming into tonight's game that Toronto leads Philadelphia is both GF/G and GA/G? ~~Or that Toronto's goaltendings has been far better than Philly's? (OK, that one you probably did guess.)~~ Just three years removed from the Cup Finals, this current incarnation of the Flyers is a far cry from the one that used to strike fear into opposing fanbases. Their offense has been neutered; no Carter, Richards, JVR, or Jagr. Their defense is atrocious; Luke Schenn led them in icetime last game. ~~And their goaltending is as it's always been; suspect.~~

Update: I've been told that the Flyers goaltending amazing and that I'm a stupid fuck for thinking this is anything but a flash in the pan before the eventual humiliating collapse. So there you have it folks; it's fixed. Nothing to see here, move along.

Now that isn't to say they aren't dangerous. Claude Giroux and Danny Briere can take over any game they feel like, but their supporting cast isn't all too spectacular. Wayne Simmonds on the first line? Who the hell is Tye McGinn? Mike Knuble is still in the NHL? And so on. This is not the Eastern Conference powerhouse team it was only a short time ago.

Toronto meanwhile may have finally figure out how to play Randy Carlyle hockey, and Randy Carlyle may have finally figured out how to properly manage icetime. Mike Kostka under 20 minutes for 2 games in a row. Cody Franson over 20 minutes for the first time this season. Not a single forward with over 20 minutes. It's amazing. Here's hoping he continues to coach the proper way.

Here are your lineups:

Toronto

James van Riemsdyk - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel

Leo Komarov - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin

Matt Frattin - Nazem Kadri - Clarke MacArthur

Jay McClement - Colton Orr - Frazer McClaren

Dion Phaneuf - Mike Kostka

John Michael Liles - Cody Franson

Korbinian Holzer - Mark Fraser

James Reimer

Ben Scrivens

Philadelphia