Flyers (27-22-7) at Flames (28-26-3)
9:30 p.m. on TCN, CSNPhilly.com and the NBC Sports App; Pregame Live at 9
The Flyers on Wednesday night begin their three-game road trip through Canada when they visit the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Here are five things to know before puck drop:
1. Ready for road?
The Flyers will have to figure things out on the road if they want to make the playoffs for a second straight season.
Fifteen of their final 26 games are away from the Wells Fargo Center. They're just 2-8-2 in their last 12 road games, a stretch in which they've been outscored, 43-18.
"Feels like every game is a must-win right now," Michael Raffl said Tuesday. "There's no room for error, so we've got to be focused and we will be."
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The good thing for the Flyers is they're 5-1-1 in Calgary dating back to 2002.
2. A wild update
Things remain as competitive and jumbled as ever in the push for the Eastern Conference's second wild-card slot.
The Maple Leafs currently hold the position at 63 points, two ahead of the Flyers and with a game in hand. Toronto on Tuesday night absolutely clobbered the Islanders, 7-1. The Isles trail the Flyers by only one point.
The Panthers, Devils and Sabres all have 58 points, while the Lightning (57), Hurricanes (55) and Red Wings (54) are not far behind.
"We are in the middle of and have been in the middle of a pretty tight battle here for quite some time, and that's not going to change anytime soon assuming we keep doing our job," Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol said Tuesday (see story). "Just keep practicing hard, keep playing well and keep a short-term focus."
3. Fuel to Flames
Calgary should be plenty peeved after being blasted on home ice Monday, 5-0, by the Coyotes.
The Flames are in a playoff push themselves, only a point out of the Western Conference's second wild-card bid.
"You could sense the intensity this morning and [Tuesday's] practice, you could feel the intensity," Calgary head coach Glen Gulutzan said, per the team's official website. "We were sharp [Tuesday] and we need to be sharp tonight."
The Flames are just .500 at Scotiabank Saddledome (14-14-0) and allow the NHL's third-most goals per game on home ice (2.96).
4. Keep an eye on ...
Flyers: We're going to say Shayne Gostisbehere breaks his 29-game goal drought. Flyers defensemen are having to produce a lot offensively with some of the forwards struggling to make plays. Gostisbehere has been active in two games back from his benching and he'll find the twine in this one.
Flames: Let's have some fun and go with South Jersey native Johnny Gaudreau, who was recently sent a message by playing on the fourth line (see story). The 23-year-old has gone scoreless in his last two games but had six points in his previous four contests. He's also played well against the Flyers, with six points (one goal, five assists) in four career meetings.
5. This and that
• Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth is 3-1-1 with a 1.20 goals-against average and .946 save percentage in his past five games (see story).
• Flames goalie Brian Elliott is 6-4-0 with a 2.22 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and three shutouts in 10 career games against the Flyers.
• The Flyers have 11 overtime/shootout wins, tied for most in the NHL with the Kings.
• Claude Giroux has one even-strength goal in his last 21 games.
