PREVIEW 8:00 AM EDT
With a one-point lead in the Eastern Conference and a five-point edge in the Atlantic Division, the Flyers (44-19-9) face another big test tonight when they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins (42-23-8) at the Wells Fargo Center. Despite the continuing absence of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and the recent suspension of Matt Cooke, the Penguins keep on finding ways to hang tough in the Atlantic Division race. Pittsburgh is 6-2-2 over its last 10 games, while the Flyers have gone just 4-3-3.
Tonight's game marks the fifth of six regular season meetings between the cross-state archrivals this season. The Flyers have won three of the first four games, but the teams last played each other more than three months ago (Dec. 14). They will complete the season series next Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
On Tuesday, the Flyers rallied from a 3-0 deficit against Washington to take a 4-3 lead on consecutive goals by Kris Versteeg, Claude Giroux, Andreas Nodl and Danny Briere. Unfortunately, poor goaltending by Sergei Bobrovsky and Brian Boucher doomed the team to a 5-4 shootout loss. Meanwhile, in the Penguins last game, Pittsburgh blew a 3-0 lead to the Red Wings but rescued the win in the shootout. James Neal scored the winner, and Brent Johnson made 37 regulation/OT saves before going 3-for-3 in the shootout.
For the Flyers, Danny Briere has emerged from his post-All Star break slump to heat up as the stretch run approaches its final two weeks. Over his last seven games, Briere has racked up 9 points. Likewise, Giroux and Jeff Carter have continued to produce and Ville Leino appears to be getting into playoff mode. Nodl is coming off his best game in the NHL to date. For the Pens, Jordan Staal and the red-hot Chris Kunitz (4 goals, 8 points in the last four games) have carried much of the load without Crosby and Malkin. The Pens are waiting for Neal to heat up offensively, and he has shown signs in the last two games that he's getting close.
On the injury front, the Flyers will be without Chris Pronger (hand surgery) and Jody Shelley (fractured orbital bone) today. Jeff Carter (upper body injury) did not practice yesterday but is said to be well enough to play tonight. The Penguins will be without Crosby (concussion), Malkin (right knee), Eric Tangradi (concussion) and Brooks Orpik (broken finger). Mark Letestu (upper body) missed the Detroit game and is day-to-day.
PROJECTED LINEUPS (subject to change)
FLYERS
JVR - Richards - Versteeg
Hartnell - Briere - Leino
Nodl - Giroux - Carter
Carcillo - Betts - Powe
Coburn - Timonen
Carle - Meszaros
O'Donnell - Boynton
Bobrovsky/Boucher
PENGUINS
Kunitz - Staal - Kennedy
Neal - Jeffrey - Kovalev
Dupuis - Talbot - Asham
Rupp - Adams - Conner
Lovejoy - Letang
Martin - Michalek
Engelland - Niskanen
Fleury/Johnson
*****
Today's
Daily Drop at Versus.com looks at the late-game magic that Teemu Selanne has made a regular habit of creating lately. Last night, for the second time this week, third time this month and fourth time in the last two months, he scored within the final two minutes of regulation (6.4 seconds left on the clock last night) to send a game to overtime. Each time, Anaheim has gone on to win in the extra frame.
At age 40, Selanne has averaged better than a point per game this season (68 points through his first 64 games this season). That's truly incredible.
Selanne has been a model of consistency this season. He's only been held without a point in back-to-back games twice this season and has not gone three straight this season without chipping in the scoreboard either by goal or assist.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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