5 THINGS: Sharks vs. Flyers

QUICK STATS
Season Series: 0-1-0
All-Time Record: 37gp (14-15-4-5)
Leading Scorers:
PHI: 46pts, Voracek (14g-32a)
SJS: 57pts, Burns (22g-35a)
Power Play: (PHI: 40-for-189, 21.2%, T-9th) (SJS: 30-for-172, 17.4%, T-19th)
Penalty Kill: (PHI: 135-of-167, 80.8%, T-17th) (SJS: 116-for-144, 80.5%, T-19th)
1. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY
Today's game against the Sharks is the first of four straight games against not only Western Conference opponents, but all in the Pacific Division… The Flyers own a 10-7-4 record against the West, including a 4-3-3 record against the Pacific, earning three of their four wins and eight of their 11 points against the Pacific on home ice… Following today's game, the Flyers will hit the road for three straight games in Western Canada.
2. NO SUCH LUCK
The Flyers have dropped six straight games to the Sharks, going 0-4-2 dating back to Feb. 3, 2014, and have just one win in their last 20 meetings against San Jose, posting a 1-12-5 record with two ties since the 2001-02 season… They have also gone winless on home ice in their last nine games at the Wells Fargo Center with their last victory coming on Dec. 21, 2000 when Daymond Langkow had a goal and two assists and Rick Tocchet had two goals.

3. LATELY THEY HAVE
Both teams enter today's game looking to snap three-game winless skids… The Flyers have gone 0-2-1, while the Sharks are 0-1-2… The Flyers are also wrapping up a five-game homestand today where they have gone 1-2-1, while the Sharks are in the midst of a four-game road trip… Sharks veteran forward Patrick Marleau is currently riding an eight-game points streak in which he has seven goals and 12 points… Shayne Gostisbehere has recorded points (both assists) in two straight games he has played and three assists in his last five games.
4. THAT SPECIAL FEELING
The Flyers rank third in the NHL in most power-play opportunities (189) and third for the most power-play goals scored (40)… Four of the last five Flyers goals have been scored with the Flyers having a man advantage, three of the five goals coming on the power-play, and one empty-net goal… The Sharks have scored just once on the power-play (1-for-9), while giving up a goal on their penalty kill in each of the last three games… The Sharks have not gone two straight games without a power-play goal since Jan. 7-10.
5. PLAYERS TO WATCH:
FLYERS (LW: #40 - Jordan Weal)
Weal will play his first game since being recalled from the club's AHL affiliate, and only his 15th game of his NHL career, after playing 14 games last season with LA and Flyers combined… Weal leads the Phantoms and ranks second overall in the AHL scoring with 47 points (15g-32a) in 43 games, while recording at least a point in nine of his last 11 games, posting 14 points in that stretch.
SHARKS (D: #88 - Brent Burns)
The All-Star defenseman is the one of two defensemen in the NHL to lead his team in points (OTT- Karlsson) but is the only d-man to lead his team in goals… He leads the Sharks with 22 goals and 35 assists for 57 points, which leads all NHL defensemen and is tied for third in the entire league in scoring… He was held scoreless in the Sharks loss at Boston, but has not gone two straight games without a point since a three-game stretch from Nov. 15-19.
TODAY AT 50
On February 11, 1993… The Flyers and Montreal Canadiens battle to a 0-0 tie at the Spectrum. Tommy Soderstrom turns aside all 23 shots he faces, while Andre Racicot does the same on 26 shots.
On February 11, 1995… Newly acquired John LeClair scores his first goal as a Flyer to open the scoring of a 3-1 Flyers road win over the New Jersey Devils. Brent Fedyk and Josef Beranek also score for the Flyers.