Leading the Flyers during their winning streak has been forward Claude Giroux, who has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past four games and was named the NHL First Star of the Week on Monday. The Devils will be without forwards Brian Boyle (right shoulder) and John Quenneville (right knee) as they try to end a four-game losing streak (0-4-0). New Jersey is 3-8-0 in its past 11 games. The Flyers are three points ahead of the Devils, who hold the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Each team is missing its No. 1 goalie -- the Flyers announced Brian Elliott had core muscle surgery Tuesday and will be out 5-6 weeks, and the Devils have been without Cory Schneider (groin) for the past eight games. Schneider was placed on injured reserve Monday.
Players to watch
Devils forward Taylor Hall has nine points (four goals, five assists) in seven games after missing three games because of a thumb injury. He has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in his past 14 games. Flyers forward Travis Konecny has 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 21 games since being promoted to the first line with Giroux and Sean Couturier on Dec. 23. In his first 35 games he had 10 points (four goals, six assists)
They said it
"Just look at the last game (5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday). We were the better team. We had some bounces that went in the net the wrong way so we're not far. We haven't found a way to win games but we're not far off." -- Devils coach John Hynes "Every time we've played [the Devils] we've been within two points of each other. Going to be the same tonight. I wouldn't expect any different. We should have an exciting game here. These are two important points for us as they are for them as well." -- Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds
Boyle and Quenneville are day to day. Lappin was recalled from Binghamton of the American Hockey League on Monday. … Laughton missed the morning skate but Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said he would be available for the game. If Laughton can't play, Filppula likely would go into his spot, Lehtera would shift to center and Leier would go in on the fourth line.
Stat pack
Palmieri has eight points (five goals, three assists) in his past seven games. … Since ending their 10-game losing streak Dec. 4, the Flyers are 20-8-2, tied with the Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning for the second-most wins in that stretch; the Boston Bruins have 22. Gostisbehere has nine points (one goal, eight assists) in his past six games.
