Flyers at Ducks
The fortunes of the Anaheim Ducks and Philadelphia Flyers have taken a tumble of late, with former answering a sterling 5-1-1 start by surrendering 19 goals over five straight losses (0-4-1) while the latter has been outscored 13-2 during its three-game losing skid. One team will take a step toward getting back on track Tuesday as the struggling Ducks and Flyers meet at Honda Center.
Pontus Aberg recorded his first career multi-goal performance with two tallies in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to San Jose while captain Ryan Getzlaf notched his second straight multi-point effort with a pair of assists. "We have to come to work again," said the 33-year-old Getzlaf, who is tied with four others for the team lead in points (seven). "It's all about buying into our system and doing the things we want to do. Having fun again, and trying to play hockey at a high level." The Flyers aren't having much fun of late, so much so that captain Claude Giroux told reporters that the team's four-game road trip might be just what the doctor ordered to turn things around. "That's what we need right now," the 30-year-old said. "We need to get closer as a team, we need to go out there and play for each other, and this road trip is going to be very important for the season."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, Sportsnet1, FS West (Anaheim)
ABOUT THE FLYERS (4-7-0): Perhaps there's something to Giroux's words as Philadelphia answered a 10-game winless skid last season with a road trip that saw it defeat Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. The Flyers will need to find their offense as Giroux has been held without a goal in five straight games, fellow forward Sean Couturier does not have an assist in his last 11 and puck-moving defenseman Ivan Provorov has yet to score this season and has a minus-8 rating after netting 17 goals in 2017-18. Jori Lehtera scored his first goal of the campaign in Saturday afternoon's 6-1 setback to the New York Islanders.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (5-5-2): Although Anaheim is mired in its worst losing streak in three years, coach Randy Carlyle cautioned his charges to keep their heads up. "There is our fair share of work that needs to be done, but for us it's about taking the next step," Carlyle said. "Right now, we're a hockey club that has to try to create an identity, and we did that in the last 30 minutes of (the San Jose) game." The Ducks' defense has been quite generous with John Gibson seeing 49 shots against the Sharks, although the Pennsylvania native boasts a 4-0-1 mark in five career encounters versus the Flyers.
OVERTIME
1. Philadelphia has allowed the first goal in 10 of 11 games this season.
2. Anaheim C Adam Henrique resides one point shy of 300 for his career.
3. Flyers F Nic Aube-Kubel will make his NHL debut versus the Ducks after being recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League.