5 Reasons to watch Flyers-Blues

The Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues came into the NHL together during the 1967 expansion that grew the League from six teams to 12. They'll play for the 148th time in the regular season when the Flyers visit Scottrade Center for the Wednesday Night Rivalry game (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN).
The Flyers and Blues now see each other twice per season (down from 10 regular-season games and seven more in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 1967-68). That doesn't mean there won't be plenty of energy in the building; neither team is assured of a return to the playoffs despite playing well through most of the first two and a half months of the season.

Here are 5 reasons to tune in:

Vladimir Tarasenko

It's not much of a stretch to say that as Tarasenko goes, so go the Blues. The 25-year-old game-breaker leads St. Louis in goals (16), assists (22) and points (38). Tarasenko is on pace to surpass his NHL career highs in assists (36) and points (74). He's one of those players who is always a threat to score and one of the few in the League who opponents have to account for every time he's on the ice.

Jakub Voracek

Voracek is having a rebound year after dropping from an NHL career-high 81 points in 2014-15 to 55 last season. He already has matched his total of 11 goals last season and is on pace to equal his point production from two seasons ago. Voracek had 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) during Philadelphia's 10-game winning streak. He's excellent at setting up teammates for scoring chances but shoots enough that opponents can't play him to pass all the time.

Mason working full time

Flyers goalie Steve Mason began the season as part of a two-headed goaltending combination but has been the full-time starter since Michal Neuvirth was sidelined with a lower-body injury six weeks ago. Mason, 14-10-4 with a 2.69 goals-against average and .908 save percentage, started eight of the 10 wins during Philadelphia's streak and has won nine of his past 12 decisions. Backup Carter Hutton will start for the Blues.

Home, sweet home

Scottrade Center has been one of the NHL's toughest stops for visiting teams this season. The Blues are 13-2-4 on home ice, but the Flyers have fared well in St. Louis. They are 37-27-7-3 all-time on the road against the Blues, including 6-1-3 in their past 10 visits to Scottrade Center.

Playoff push

The Flyers and Blues each return from a five-day break in possession of a playoff spot. Philadelphia holds the second wild card from the Eastern Conference with 44 points; however, they've played 36 games, tied for second most in the NHL. The Blues have 41 points in 35 games, good for third place in the Central Division.