Flyers at Sharks
Several members of the Philadelphia Flyers said earlier this week that they were looking forward to hitting the road for a four-game trek as a means of changing their fortunes and bonding with teammates. The Flyers have done precisely that, answering a three-game losing skid by recording back-to-back wins for the first time this season heading into Saturday's road game versus the San Jose Sharks.
"I think the road trip, that's what we needed. Get the boys tighter. Bring everybody closer. And you know we're rolling right now," Philadelphia defenseman Ivan Provorov said after scoring for the second time in as many games in Thursday's 5-2 victory versus Los Angeles. Former King Wayne Simmonds netted his team-leading seventh goal in that contest and also tallied in a disastrous 8-2 setback to San Jose on Oct. 9. Kevin Labanc notched four assists in the rout against the Flyers and ended a 10-game goal drought on Thursday, although the Sharks saw their six-game point streak (4-0-2) come to an end with a 4-1 setback versus Columbus. "Get the monkey off your back, but it obviously stinks we didn't get the two points tonight. We just have to worry about our upcoming game," the 22-year-old Labanc said.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia-Plus, NBCS California (San Jose)
ABOUT THE FLYERS (6-7-0): Captain Claude Giroux, who had a pair of assists in the first meeting with San Jose, has embraced the road trip by notching his third point in two games with a goal against Los Angeles. Fellow forward Oskar Lindblom scored and set up a goal on Thursday to boost his point total to three on the trek after being limited to just one during his previous 10 games. "I feel like I've been playing a pretty simple game, getting more into it along with every other player," the 22-year-old Swede said. "So as long as you get points, you're going to be more confident of course ... it's a good two games, but we've still got two more."
ABOUT THE SHARKS (6-4-3): Logan Couture set up Labanc's first-period tally to give him five goals and eight assists on his career high-tying eight-game point streak. The 29-year-old's 15 points this season have him tied with defenseman Brent Burns, who was held off the scoresheet against the Blue Jackets to end a nine-game point streak that began with an assist versus Philadelphia. Captain Joe Pavelski scored two of the Sharks' four first-period goals in that outing, but has been held off the scoresheet during the last four games and is a minus-3 in that stretch.
OVERTIME
1. San Jose has thwarted all 18 short-handed situations over the last seven games.
2. Flyers G Brian Elliott has answered being gashed for eight goals against the Sharks by surrendering 14 in his last six outings.
3. San Jose LW Evander Kane has failed to score a goal since tallying twice versus Philadelphia.