MTL@PHI: Five things you need to know

PHILADELPHIA - Here are five things you need to know ahead of Thursday's game against the Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center.

1. The Canadiens are playing the second game of a back-to-back and saw their modest two-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday night at the Bell Centre. They dropped a 4-1 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks at home. Phillip Danault scored his 12th of the season in the second period, and Ilya Kovalchuk continued his hot run with a helper on the play. Tomas Tatar earned the secondary assist on the goal and increased his lead on the team's scoring list with his 40th point of the season. Charlie Lindgren made his third start of the season for the Habs and made 24 saves in the loss.
2. If the Habs are excited that Kovalchuk is producing at nearly a point-per-game clip since his arrival in Montreal, they'll also be pleased to know that the Russian sniper has 51 points in 51 career games against the Flyers. His 25 goals and 26 assists against Philadelphia are far and away the most by any current player on the Canadiens, with Shea Weber and the injured Brendan Gallagher coming in second with 16 points apiece. Tatar has also fared well against the Broad Street Bullies, notching 12 points (7G, 5A) in 20 career games.

3. When Julien announced that Lindgren would face the Blackhawks, he also told the media that Carey Price would make the start on Thursday in Philadelphia. The Habs traveled to the City of Brotherly Love following the Chicago game and didn't hold a morning skate. During his pregame media availability, the coach announced that Joel Armia would be making his return following an 11-game absence. He'll take Jordan Weal's place in the lineup. On defense, Brett Kulak draws in and will replace Cale Fleury.

4. The Flyers are also playing the second game of a back-to-back, but they're coming home on a high. On Wednesday, they defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-3 in overtime despite blowing a two-goal lead in the third period. Jakub Voracek scored the game-winner, with Tyler Pitlick, Michael Raffl, and Travis Konecny also lighting the lamp in the win. Brian Elliott made 30 saves in the win. Carter Hart injured himself in practice on Tuesday and will be out two to three weeks with a right lower abdominal strain, and the Flyers will start Alex Lyon, recalled from the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms on an emergency basis, in goal on Thursday.
5. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. You can catch all the action on TSN2 and RDS on television, and on TSN 690 and 98,5 fm on the radio.