Flyers-Jets 5 Things: The Start of the Season's Final Blow?

Flyers (33-30-8) at Jets (32-33-7)
8 p.m. on CSN, CSNPhilly.com and the NBC Sports App; Pregame Live at 7:30

The Flyers continue their desperate fight for the Eastern Conference's final playoff berth when they visit the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night at MTS Centre.

Here are five things to know for the matchup.

1. Lonely road
A major reason for the Flyers' current predicament is the team's inability on the road.

The Flyers are 4-14-3 away from home dating back to Dec. 19, five days after their 10-game winning streak was snapped. Over that 21-game span on the road, the Flyers have been outscored 74-39.

Now, just to barely stay afloat, the Flyers must survive a four-game road trip that ends against the Blue Jackets and Penguins, both top-four NHL clubs.

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"This trip will probably determine the outcome of the season," Steve Mason said Monday.

2. Standings watch
With 11 regular-season games remaining, the Flyers stand seven points out of the second wild-card spot and trail three teams for it.

At 81 points, the Maple Leafs currently lead the pack, followed by the Islanders (78) and Lightning (77). The Flyers have 74 points, only one ahead of both the Hurricanes and Panthers.

The Flyers would have to win nine of their final 11 games to finish with 92 points. Last season, they needed 96 points to secure the second wild card.

The Flyers have two games remaining against contenders for the last postseason bid: vs. the Islanders on March 30 and vs. the Hurricanes on April 9.

And their combined record against the teams left on the schedule: 10-10-2.

3. Fuel on the Jets
The one thing the Flyers have going for them on Tuesday is their dominance of the Jets.

The Flyers have won six straight games against the Jets, outscoring them 22-10. Their last loss to the Jets came on Nov. 15, 2013.

Winnipeg can certainly score, though. The Jets are tied for seventh in the NHL with 2.99 goals per game and have three players with 60 or more points. Mark Scheifele leads the way with 71 (28 goals, 43 assists), followed by star 18-year-old Patrik Laine (33 goals, 27 assists) and veteran Blake Wheeler (21 goals, 39 assists) both with 60.

4. Keep an eye on …
Flyers: Per usual, Sean Couturier will be important against the opposition's top guns. In the last meeting against Winnipeg, Couturier scored a goal and helped hold Laine scoreless. The Flyers' 24-year-old is also coming off the first three-assist game of his career.

Jets: Let's go with left winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who is finishing strong with 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in his last 10 games. Playing on the top line with Laine, the 21-year-old Ehlers can surprise you as he has 22 goals and 36 assists on the season.

5. This and that
• Flyers goalie Steve Mason will make his 10th start in the last 11 games. Over his past nine games, Mason is 5-3-1 with a 2.16 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and two shutouts.

• Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck saw the Flyers for the first time in November and allowed four goals on 21 shots faced. He has not been good in his previous six outings, going 1-3-1 with a 4.06 goals-against average and .883 save percentage.

• Winnipeg owns the league's second-worst penalty-kill percentage at 76.7.

• Brayden Schenn is riding a four-game point streak in which he has three goals and two assists.

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