Preview: Philly flies into town on a losing streak

Just the facts

When: 7 PM

Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA

How to follow: NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub, NHL Network (US)

Rival SBN site: Broad Street Hockey

Know your enemy

• Claude Giroux: 23G-56A-79PTS; Jakub Voracek: 15G-57A-72PTS; Sean Couturier: 29G-34A-63PTS
• Brian Elliott: 21-11-7, 2.72 GAA, .908; Petr Mrazek: 3-3-1, 3.08, .889

Game notes

• Claude Giroux is having a monster season for the Flyers. The 30-year-old forward has 79 points, good for fourth place in the league’s overall scoring race. Giroux is a guy who seems like he’s never really gotten that consistent superstar recognition, perhaps due to an off year here or there. However, he’s an elite talent, and should probably be in the Hart conversation.
• The Flyers played last night at home against Pittsburgh and lost, 5-2. It was Philly’s fourth-consecutive defeat. A win would have put Philly in first in the Metro; instead, they now sit just three points ahead of New Jersey, which is in the first wild card spot.
• Speaking of the Metro, that race is ridiculous. The Rangers are the furthest from the playoffs, and they’re only seven points out. The gap between first and fifth in the division is just nine points. For reference, the gap between first and fifth in the Atlantic is 33 points. 33!
• Petr Mrazek played last night for the Flyers, so we’ll probably see one of Philly’s billion other goalies. It seems like net has been a weakness in Philly for the better part of a decade, and this season isn’t much difference.
• A post from BSH commenter Bud in TN illustrates how streaky the Flyers have been this season: “They went 8-8 before their 10 game losing streak. Then they won six in a row. Then they went 2-5. Then they went 8-1. Then they lost four in a row. Then they went 10-1. Now they have lost four in a row again.”
• As far as I’ve been able to tell, the Bruins haven’t recalled anyone to fill David Backes’ spot yet. It’s possible that they’re just going to slide Noel Acciari back in and move other players around. If they do call someone up, expect it to be either Austin Czarnik or Peter Cehlarik.
• We’ll know more after the morning skate, but the starting goalie remains a mystery. Tuukka Rask was healthy enough to be the back-up on Tuesday night, but does Bruce Cassidy give him an extended rest and let Anton Khudobin go until Saturday?

Never forget

Marc Savard forever.