Jets at Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers have both raised expectations and anxiety levels with pronounced winning and winless streaks this season. Following a red-hot 10-0-1 run to end February with an 0-4-1 start to March, the Flyers continue their stretch against formidable foes on Saturday afternoon when they host the surging Winnipeg Jets at Wells Fargo Center.
"Hard to swallow" was Philadelphia coach Dave Hakstol's response after watching Brad Marchand score with 22 seconds remaining in the third period of a 3-2 setback to Boston on Thursday. The Flyers have also dropped decisions this month to Eastern Conference-best Tampa Bay, surging Florida and Metropolitan Division-leading Pittsburgh while dates with the Jets and Pacific Division-best Vegas line their immediate schedule. While Philadelphia has yet to taste victory this month, Winnipeg has won all four of its contests in March and improved to 3-0-0 on its season-high six-game road trip with a 3-2 triumph over New Jersey. NHL Second Star of the Week Patrik Laine scored his eight goal in four contests to extend his point streak to 10 games (14 goals, six assists) for the Jets, who are 9-2-0 in their last 11 overall and 7-0-1 in their last eight on the road.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, TSN3 (Winnipeg), NBCS Philadelphia
ABOUT THE JETS (41-17-9): Connor Hellebuyck moved past Kari Lehtonen for the franchise single-season record in wins with his 35th on Thursday, turning aside 41 shots versus the Devils to improve his save percentage to .925 in his past eight starts. "I haven't let it soak in," the 24-year-old Hellebuyck said. "It's a good feeling, having my name up there is pretty cool. It's a big milestone in my career and I'm going to enjoy it and continue on and keep pushing the pace." Forward Nikolaj Ehlers is having a fine season in his own right with 26 goals and as many assists, including five and seven, respectively, over the last 10 games.
ABOUT THE FLYERS (34-23-11): Winnipeg native Nolan Patrick continued his scoring surge in spectacular fashion on Thursday, deftly backhanding a pass between his legs to Jakub Voracek for an early power-play goal. The 19-year-old Patrick has looked significantly more at ease as his rookie season has gone on with nine points (five goals, four assists) in his past 11 contests. Captain Claude Giroux also notched an assist on Voracek's goal to move within four points of Eric Lindros (659) for fifth place in Flyers' scoring history.
OVERTIME
1. The matinee features Philadelphia's Voracek and Giroux as well as Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler, who each have 57 assists to share top honors in the NHL this season heading into play on Friday.
2. Jets C Mark Scheifele (upper body), D Dmitry Kulikov (lower body) and former Flyers G Steve Mason (lower body) will not play on Saturday, per coach Paul Maurice.
3. Winnipeg has won six straight games against Eastern Conference foes and 10 of its last 11.