5 THINGS: Flyers vs. Penguins

QUICK STATS
Season Series: 0-1-0
All-Time Record: 278gp (151-89-30-8)
Leading Scorers:
PHI: 49pts, Voracek (15g-34a)
PIT: 66pts, Crosby (33g-33a)
Power Play: (PHI: 43-for-204, 21.1%, 9th) (PIT: 43-for-198, 21.7%, 6th)
Penalty Kill: (PHI: 145-of-179, 81.0%, T-16th) (PIT: 159-for-198, 80.3%, 21st)
1. GRIDIRON CLASSIC
This is the third outdoor game for the Flyers, but first in a football stadium, after appearing at Fenway Park in the 2010 Winter Classic and the 2012 Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park… The Flyers are 0-1-1 in outdoor games, with both games decided by one goal after taking losses in 2010 to the Bruins, 2-1 in overtime, and 2012 to the NY Rangers, 3-2… In the previous two outdoor games for the Flyers, a player has recorded his first NHL goal (2010 - Danny Syvret; 2012 - Brayden Schenn)… Claude Giroux is the only player who has skated for the Flyers in both of their previous outdoor games.
2. IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED
This is the second outdoor game played at Heinz Field with the Pens dropping the 2011 Winter Classic, 3-1, to the Washington Capitals… This is also the fourth overall outdoor game for the Penguins with all four games taking place in a football stadium… The Penguins own a record of 1-2-0 in outdoor games, winning the first ever Winter Classic at Buffalo against the Sabres, 2-1 in a shootout, but have lost two consecutive games outdoors (2011 Winter Classic & 2014 Stadium Series, 5-1 at Soldier Field in Chicago against the Blackhawks)… In three outdoor games, the Pens have scored a combined three goals… Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are the only Penguins who have appeared in all three outdoor games for Pittsburgh.

3. THERE'S HISTORY THERE
This is the 279th all-time meeting against the Penguins with both teams entering the NHL in the expansion year of 1967 and are celebrating their 50th anniversary… The Flyers have the most wins against the Penguins than any other franchise in the NHL, owning an all-time record of 151-89-30-8… The Flyers have scored 1,001 all-time goals and allowed 851 goals against the Penguins… The two teams have met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs six times with the Flyers winning four of those series, including their last meeting in 2012… In their history, 78 players have played for both the Penguins and Flyers, the latest of which is Max Talbot.
4. TWO POINT CONVERSION
Amidst the festivities, the game counts as an important two points in the standings… The road teams have picked up at least one point in 16 of the NHL's 21 regular-season outdoor games, going 14-5-2… This is the second of four meetings this season against the Pens, who won the first meeting, 5-4 on Oct. 29… Beginning with this game, the Flyers play the Penguins in the final three games of the season series in a 15-game span… Although the Flyers have dropped the last two meetings, they have won five of their last seven at Pittsburgh and have won 13 of their 18 visits to Pittsburgh, including playoffs.
5. PLAYERS TO WATCH:
FLYERS (C: #28 - Claude Giroux)
The Flyers captain is second on the team in assists (30) and is tied for second in overall scoring with 42 points in 60 games, while also being tied for third among all NHL players in power-play points (23)… Giroux recorded a goal in the first meeting of the season and averages a point per-game in his career against the Penguins with 13 goals, 24 assists for 37 points in 37 games… Over half of his points against the Penguins have come on the power play (20)… This is the third outdoor game for Giroux, who has one goal and logged over 23 minutes of ice time in his last outdoor game, the 2012 Winter Classic.
PENGUINS (C: #87 - Sidney Crosby)
Crosby leads all NHL players with 33 goals so far this season and currently ranks second in overall scoring with 66 points in 53 games, while leading all players in points per-game (1.25)… Crosby has three goals and five points in his last four games… The Penguins captain has just one assist in the previous three outdoor games, but scored the shootout game-winner in the first NHL Winter Classic in Buffalo… Against the Flyers, he averages 1.48 points per-game with 35 goals and 48 assists for 83 points in 56 career games.