Flyers at Ducks
THE STORY: After being fired as coach of the Washington Capitals on Monday, Bruce Boudreau will guide his new team - the Anaheim Ducks - into battle against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday. The five-day turnaround for Boudreau is the quickest between coaching two clubs in NHL history. The former Jack Adams Award winner takes the helm after Randy Carlyle was fired shortly after Anaheim's 4-1 triumph over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. Assistant coaches Dave Farrish and Mike Foligno were also let go after the victory, which snapped a seven-game losing skid for the Ducks. “At this time, we simply felt a new voice was needed,” Anaheim general manager Bob Murray said. “Bruce is a proven winner with a great track record, and we are optimistic we can turn this season around under his leadership." The Ducks will face a stern test in the Flyers, who have posted an impressive 7-3-1 mark away from the City of Brotherly Love. They better get used to life on the road, considering that they play 10 of their next 13 contests outside of Philadelphia.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, TCN, FSPT
ABOUT THE FLYERS (13-7-3): Veteran right wing Jaromir Jagr and rookie center Brayden Schenn are expected to make their respective returns to the ice on Friday. Jagr, 39, has missed four of the last five games with a groin injury while Schenn, 20, has been sidelined for 14 contests with a broken foot after blocking a shot from Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (7-13-4): While Anaheim has admittedly struggled, reigning Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry seems to have found his stride. Perry collected a goal and two assists against the Canadiens and is currently riding both a four-game goal streak and seven-game point streak. Ryan Getzlaf has also secured points in seven straight contests. The Ducks have defeated the Flyers in each of their last three meetings.
OVERTIME:
1. With Philadelphia defensemen Chris Pronger (knee, virus) and Andreas Lilja (ankle) injured, fellow blue-liner Braydon Coburn logged over 28 minutes in Saturday's 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers.
2. Flyers LW Scott Hartnell is struggling offensively. He was denied by Henrik Lundqvist on a breakaway during Saturday's loss and has been held off the scoresheet in three of the last four contests.