Hurricanes at Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes were unable to gain any significant mileage from wildly successful streaks this season, and as a result found themselves in the same familiar place: out of the playoffs. With little more than pride on the line, Philadelphia looks to fend off Carolina for sole possession of sixth place in the Metropolitan Division when the teams meet at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday.
"We have a lot of pride in ourselves, playing for one another and playing for the fans," Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto told Philly.com after the team improved to 5-1-1 with a 4-2 victory over Columbus on Saturday afternoon. "The fans here are passionate in this hockey market and we're not going out without an effort." While the team's year-long effort is up for debate, the results spoke for themselves as Philadelphia answered a 10-game winning streak that bridged November into December by losing 20 of its next 29 games (9-16-4). Carolina can sing a similar tune on a smaller scale, as its impressive 13-game point streak (9-0-4) gave way to its current five-game winless skid (0-4-1).
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Carolinas, CSN Philadelphia, NHL.TV
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (35-31-15): Jeff Skinner scored twice in Saturday's 5-4 shootout loss to St. Louis to raise his goal total to a career-high 37, with 17 coming in his last 18 games. Sunday's contest will be the final one of the career for veteran forward Bryan Bickell, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November. "The biggest thing is my health, and I don't want to take risks," the 31-year-old Bickell told the Raleigh News & Observer. "It's tough to leave, but I'm excited about life after hockey, and I want to be healthy. To watch my kids grow will be important."
ABOUT THE FLYERS (39-33-9): Anthony Stolarz is expected to receive one more audition with Philadelphia after being recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League following Saturday's tilt. The 23-year-old is being studied under a watchful eye with fellow goaltender Steve Mason set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, Michal Neuvirth coming off an injury-plagued campaign and the expansion draft for the Vegas Golden Knights on the horizon. Stolarz, who is listed at 6-foot-6, has stood tall in limited outings with the Flyers, posting a 2-1-0 mark with one shutout and a 1.93 goals-against average in six appearances (three starts) this season.
OVERTIME
1. Philadelphia C Brayden Schenn has recorded 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in his last 14 games overall, including the overtime goal in a 4-3 win over Carolina on March 19.
2. Skinner has scored three goals and set up two others versus the Flyers this season.
3. Philadelphia RW Jakub Voracek (team-leading 60 points) has two goals and three assists against Carolina in 2016-17.