Flyers at Islanders
THE STORY: After defeating one team that they traditionally dominate, the Philadelphia Flyers will face another on Thursday when they visit the Atlantic Division rival New York Islanders. The Flyers recorded a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday to improve to 18-3-3 in their last 24 against the Tar Heel State representatives - including 10-1-1 in Raleigh. Now, Peter Laviolette's charges will turn their attention to the Islanders, who have dropped seven straight and are 1-17-5 in their past 23 games versus the Flyers. Fast forward back to the present, New York enters Thursday's contest after coming off an impressive 5-1 dismantling of the Detroit Red Wings. Veteran goaltender Evgeni Nabokov is expected to vie for his 300th career victory on Thursday. The 36-year-old Russian has stymied the Flyers in his career, posting a 6-0-2 mark with one shutout and a 2.55 goals-against average.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CSP, MSG+
ABOUT THE FLYERS (25-12-4): Rookie Sean Couturier scored for the second time in as many games and fellow first-year player Brayden Schenn also tallied to lead Philadelphia past Carolina. Along with Matt Read, the Flyers' rookie class has secured 57 points this season. The unexpected scoring boon has also helped compensate for the now struggling top line of Claude Giroux, Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell, which has been held off the scoresheet for the last three games. G Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 35 shots versus the Hurricanes and boasts an impressive 6-0-0 career mark with a 1.84 goals-against average versus the Islanders.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (15-19-6): C John Tavares wasn't going to let a puck to the face derail his recent scoring binge. The former top overall pick returned from the incident and collected a goal and two assists on Tuesday. He now has recorded 12 of his team-leading 39 points during a six-game scoring streak. LW Matt Moulson is on pace to shattered his first two efforts in the goal-scoring department. After notching 30 and 31 tallies in his first two full NHL seasons, Moulson is sitting pretty with 20 goals in his first 40 games this campaign. New York has converted six of its last 13 power-play opportunities.
OVERTIME:
1. Flyers C Danny Briere scored the game-tying and winning goals in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Islanders on Nov. 23.
2. Former captain Patrick Flatley will be inducted into the Islanders' Hall of Fame prior to Saturday's game against the Buffalo Sabres.
3. Philadelphia boasts a league-best 15-6-2 mark on the road this season.