5 THINGS: Penguins vs. Flyers

WILD CARD TRACKER
1. NYR: 90 pts, 12 games remaining
2. NYI: 77 pts, 13 games remaining
- - - - -
3. TBL: 77 pts, 13 games remaining
4. TOR: 76 pts, 14 games remaining
5. FLA: 71 pts, 14 games remaining
6. PHI: 70 pts, 14 games remaining
1. MORE OF THE METRO
Tonight is the second of four straight games against the Metropolitan Division for the Flyers and is the first of games on back-to-back nights as they travel to New Jersey to take on the Devils on Thursday… This is the first back-to-back the Flyers are playing in a month span, last playing back-to-backs in Calgary-Edmonton on Feb. 15-16, and it's also the first of four sets of back to backs the Flyers have in their final 14 regular season games… The Flyers own an 8-6-0 record in the first game and 8-4-2 mark in the second game.
2. ROAD WEARY
The Pens are playing the final game of their season high, nine-day, five-game road trip where they have logged 4,763 miles through Western Canada and back East… They are coming off a 4-3 shootout loss at Calgary, which snapped a five-game winning streak, but the Pens are still 5-0-1 in their last six games… The Pens also own the best winning percentage against the Metro Division at .738 to go along with a 15-5-1 record.

3. THE FIRST SINCE
Tonight marks the third meeting of the year against the Penguins and first since the Stadium Series game on Feb. 25, won by the Pens, 4-2… It is also the second and final meeting at home this year with the Flyers dropping a 5-4 decision back in October… The Flyers have not lost back-to-back home games against the Penguins since 2013… This is also the 280th all-time meeting against the Pens with the Flyers owning the most wins against the Pens than any other team in their franchise history(151).
4. THIS, THAT & THE OTHER
THIS: Claude Giroux is currently riding a four-game point streak with a goal and three assists, while Brayden Schenn has a four-game home point streak with two goals and two assists.
THAT: Former Flyer defenseman Mark Streit could make his first return to Philadelphia since being traded on deadline day. He was injured in the Pens last game and did not return. Since the trade, Streit has four points (1g-3a) and averages 16:22 of ice-time in six games.
THE OTHER: The Flyers have averaged 2.68 goals per-game playing at home compared to 2.32 goals per-game on the road, while the Penguins come into tonight's game leading the NHL in overall goals (236) and goals per-game (3.47).
5. PLAYERS TO WATCH:
FLYERS (LW: #93 - Jakub Voracek)
Voracek continues to lead the Flyers in scoring in assists (37) and overall points (54) having appeared in all 68 games thus far… He also loves playing the Pens, he has three goals in two games of the season series thus far to lead the Flyers and averages over a point per-game pace against the Pens as a Flyer, recording 15 goals and 31 points in 25 games.
PENGUINS (C: #71 - Evgeni Malkin)
Since returning from an injury that caused him to miss seven games from Jan. 26-Feb. 11, Malkin has recorded 11 goals and 18 points in 14 games… He is second on the Pens, while also ranking fifth in the entire league, in overall scoring with 72 points, while being tied for third with 33 goals… In the season series against the Flyers, Malkin has two goals and three points in two games, while owning 63 points (24g-39a) in 49 career games against the Flyers.
TODAY AT 50
On March 15, 2001… Mark Howe is inducted into the Flyers' Hall of Fame. On the same night, Roman Cechmanek breezes to a 15-save shutout in a 3-0 home win over the Minnesota Wild. Rick Tocchet (power play), Dean McAmmond and Michal Sykora provide the offensive support.
QUICK STATS
Season Series: 0-2-0
All-Time Record: 279gp (151-90-30-8)
Leading Scorers:
PHI: 54pts, Voracek (17g-37a)
PIT: 74pts, Crosby (35g-39a)
Power Play: (PHI: 48-for-237, 20.3%, 12th) (PIT: 51-for-225, 22.7%, 3rd)
Penalty Kill: (PHI: 163-of-205, 79.5%, 23rd) (PIT: 179-for-223, 80.3%, 20th)