The Flyers (5-7-0) alleviated some of their early-season pressure by snapping a three-game skid Tuesday, but their next challenge begins Thursday when they visit the Kings (3-7-1).
Let's look at the essentials:
• When: 10:30 p.m. ET with Flyers Pregame Live at 10 p.m.
• Where: STAPLES Center
• Broadcast: NBC Sports Philadelphia+
• Live stream: NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com and the NBC Sports MyTeams app
• Yes, the Flyers got a much-needed, 3-2 win over the Ducks to open their four-game road trip. They had to start somewhere. However, if the Flyers really want to show the fans something, they'll turn the victory into a streak or a semblance of consistency.
It's hard to earn believers if the Flyers can't win two games in a row. They are a month into the season and have yet to win consecutive games.
The Flyers are one of six NHL teams without back-to-back victories, including the Panthers, Kings, Rangers, Blues and Capitals.
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The Flyers haven't gone this long into a season without victories in succession since the 2006-07 campaign, when it took until Game 18 and 19.
• Dave Hakstol and company have to be hoping the performances of Sean Couturier and Nolan Patrick in Tuesday's win are signs of things to come from their top-six centers.
Patrick, who had a two-point game and netted the winning goal with 1:51 left in regulation, can be such a difference-maker when he's playing with confidence. He has three goals in his first nine games. Last season, it took Patrick 36 games to notch his first three tallies.
Couturier, who remains without an assist, scored his fourth goal. His effort dictates the Flyers' success arguably more than any other player.
In victories last season, Couturier was a plus-48 compared to a minus-14 during losses. To put that in some context, Claude Giroux, in his 102-point season, was a plus-35 in wins and a minus-7 in defeats. Jakub Voracek, with a career-best 85-point season, was a plus-27 in victories and a minus-17 in losses.
• The Kings have not been good. They have the NHL's worst goal differential at minus-17 and have scored the league's fewest goals with 22.
Goalie Jonathan Quick, who is 8-3-1 with a 1.59 goals-against average and .947 save percentage lifetime against the Flyers, is out indefinitely after undergoing knee surgery.
Los Angeles has not played since Sunday, when it beat the Rangers to halt a six-game losing streak.
• The Flyers came in at 25th on ESPN's latest NHL power rankings. Brian Elliott was noted as the player that most needed to step up as the Flyers are last in the league in team save percentage (.860).
Elliott is 5-7-2 with a 2.36 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and three shutouts in 16 career games against the Kings.
Projected lineup
Forwards
Claude Giroux-Sean Couturier-Travis Konecny
Oskar Lindblom-Nolan Patrick-Jakub Voracek
Dale Weise-Jordan Weal-Wayne Simmonds
Scott Laughton-Jori Lehtera-Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Defensemen
Ivan Provorov-Robert Hagg
Shayne Gostisbehere-Christian Folin
Travis Sanheim-Radko Gudas
Goalies
Brian Elliott
Michal Neuvirth
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