1. FLYING HIGH
The Flyers have grabbed points in five straight games, going 3-0-2... In that five-game span, the Flyers have recorded over four goals-per-game (4.4) with 22 goals, including 19 even-strength goals... The Flyers remain in the hunt for home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference playoff race, just three points back of the Penguins in second place and in a tie for third with Columbus.
2. FALLING STARS
While the Flyers are gaining ground, the Stars are losing it... They have dropped eight consecutive games, earning just two points in the standings with a 0-6-2 mark, and have failed to score more than two goals in six of the eight games... At 84 points, they are six points behind the final wild card in the West, currently held by Colorado... The Stars do have an favorable home record, despite dropping the first two of the current three-game homestand, they have earned points in five of their last seven on home ice (3-2-2) and own a 24-12-3 record at American Airlines Center.
3. THE LAST TIME WE MET
In the first meeting on Dec. 16, the Flyers earned a come from behind win with Shayne Gostisbehere potting both goals, including the overtime winner for a 2-1 victory... It was the second win over the Stars in their last three meetings, however the Flyers haven't had much luck in Dallas - they have dropped their last two games at American Airlines Center, as well as three of their last four... Both teams strongest scoring periods are the second period with both in the NHL's Top 5 - Flyers are tied for third with 90 second-period goals, while Dallas ranks fifth with 89.
4. THE DEFENSE DOESN'T REST
The Flyers defense is tied for the second-most goals of any team this season (46) and have had two defensemen score in a game on 12 occasions this season, posting an 8-1-3 record when doing so... Only once have they had three d-men score in a single game this season, a 5-3 win at Ottawa on Feb. 24 (Hagg, Manning & Provorov)... Tonight sees two of the Top 4 defensemen go against each other with Stars' d-man John Klingberg, who has 61 points (7g-54a), ranking second and Flyers d-man Shayne Gostisbehere is tied for fourth with 57 points (13g-44a).
5. PLAYERS TO WATCH:
FLYERS (D: #53 - Shayne Gostisbehere)
Gostisbehere also comes in with points in five of his last seven games (3g-4a), including three of his last four... He leads the Flyers defense in scoring with 57 points, which also ranks fourth among NHL d-men and is the most points by a Flyers defenseman since the 1993-94 season (Garry Galley: 10g-60a, 70pts)... In addition to his two goals this season, he averages a point per-game against the Stars in his career with four points (3g-1a).
STARS (C: #91 - Tyler Seguin)
Seguin loves playing against the Flyers as he averages over a point-per-game with 22 points (9g-13a) in 19 games, including 14 points in nine games as a member of Dallas... Seguin leads the Stars in goals (39), power-play goals (14) and game-winning-goals (6)... He has now reached the 70-point mark for the fifth consecutive season and is two points shy of 500 in his NHL career.
