The Flyers (25-12-9) kick off the post All-Star break portion of the 2008-09 regular season with their second trip to Miami this month. Philadelphia enters the game two points behind the first-place Devils in the Atlantic Division.
In each of the final four games heading into the break, the Flyers scored first only to give back the lead. That's a trend that Philadelphia cannot afford to have carry over. On January 16, the Flyers blew a 2-0 lead to the Panthers but prevailed in a shootout.
Many times when a team comes off a long layoff, it takes a period or two for the players to recover their legs and timing. As a result, the passing isn't as crisp, there are more plays that go offside and there are more missed shots. But at least both the Flyers and Panthers are in the same boat heading into the game, having last played on January 21.
Flyers player to watch: Simon Gagne had his best game of the month the last time these clubs met.
Panthers player to watch: David Booth is looking to become the first Florida player to crack the 20-goal mark this season.
Situational stats
5-on-5
Flyers 78 GF- 81 GA
Panthers 85 GF - 79 GA
4-on-4
Flyers 5 GF - 9 GA
Panthers 3 GF - 4 GA
Flyers powerplay
26.3% overall (2nd NHL), 15.6% road (22nd overall), 0 SHGA
Panthers penalty kill
82.3% overall (12th NHL), 81.7% home (14th NHL), 4 SHG
Panthers powerplay
16.3% (23rd NHL), 12.5% home (T-28th NHL), 6 SHGA
Flyers penalty kill
83.2% (7th NHL), 80.5% road (17th NHL), 13 SHG
Penalties
Panthers -- 4th least penalized team in NHL
Flyers -- #1 most penalized team in NHL
Tentative Flyers lineup (subject to change)
Gagne - Richards - Knuble
Hartnell - Carter - Lupul
Upshall - Metropolit - Giroux
Cote - Powe - Asham
Timonen - Väänänen
Coburn - Carle
Alberts - Jones
Biron
[Niittymäki]
Contact Bill at
[email protected] 
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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