Flyers at Panthers
The Florida Panthers mustered just five goals during their season-high four-game winless skid (0-3-1) before matching that total in their last outing. The Panthers look to record another strong offensive showing and avenge an early-week loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday when the clubs meet in Sunrise, Fla.
Michael Matheson was scratched during Florida's 4-1 setback to Philadelphia on Monday before returning to the lineup the following night and paired on an unconventional line with fellow defenseman Mark Pysyk and forward Noel Acciari. "I don't know if I'd call it fourth (line). They were better than that," Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said after the group combined for eight points (three goals, five assists). The Flyers capped an 8-2-1 run with a victory over Florida before their three-goal comeback the following night was negated by New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock's tally with 41 seconds left in a 5-3 setback. "We need to quickly forget this one and move on. This time of year, you can't sit and regret points you don't get," forward Sean Couturier said. "... It's frustrating, it's tough, but there is a lot of important hockey left."
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NBC Sports Network, NBCS Philadelphia, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Pacific
ABOUT THE FLYERS (31-19-7): Prior to Pulock's go-ahead goal, Couturier scored with 1:32 left in regulation to help Philadelphia erase its three-goal deficit and put it in position to secure at least a point against a team it expects to battle for one of the final postseason spots. The 27-year-old Couturier, who leads the Flyers in assists (34) and points (50), has 14 and 20, respectively, over his last 17 games. James van Riemsdyk scored and set up a goal versus Florida on Monday to boost his point total to 11 (four goals, seven assists) in his past dozen contests while captain Claude Giroux has six (two goals, four assists) in his last three.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (30-20-6): Evgenii Dadonov, who leads the team with 23 goals, has been held without one in seven games in February after erupting for nine in 10 contests in January. Jonathan Huberdeau (club-best 49 assists, 68 points) has been limited to just one shot on goal while being kept off the scoresheet in three straight contests. Captain Aleksander Barkov, who has recorded one point this month, has a goal and two assists in two meetings with Philadelphia this season.
OVERTIME
1. Philadelphia G Carter Hart, who made 30 saves versus Florida on Monday, carries a 2-9-1 road record with a 4.01 goals-against average into the rematch.
2. Panthers G Sergei Bobrovsky sports a 15-4-1 mark in 20 career starts versus the team with which he began his NHL career (the Flyers).
3. Philadelphia C Travis Konecny, who leads the team with 19 goals, is two points shy of matching his career high of 49.