Flyers at Flames preview

FLYERS (8-11-7) at FLAMES (14-11-1)
9 p.m. ET; SNW, NBCSP+, NHL.TV

The Flyers are 0-5-5 in their past 10 games, including a 5-4 overtime loss against the Flames on Nov. 18, matching the longest losing streak in their history done twice before (Dec. 2-27, 2006: 0-9-1; Feb. 6-23, 2008: 0-8-2).
Goalie Brian Elliott, who started 45 regular-season and four Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Flames last season, will start for the Flyers. He is 6-6-6 with a 2.98 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.
Mike Smith will start in goal for the Flames, who are 2-3-1 in their past six games after going 7-2-0 in their previous nine.

Players to watch

Flyers forward Sean Couturier has 14 goals, one shy of his NHL career high set in 2014-15. His 23 even-strength points are tied with Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov for third in the League.
Flames forward Sam Bennett has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past three games after starting the season with three points (one goal, two assists) in 23 games.

They said it

"I think mentally it's really tough. You question the way you're playing. You question if you're a good team. But at the end of the day we do believe we're a good team. We do believe we can fight for a playoff spot. Now we've just got to prove it on the ice." -- Flyers forward Claude Giroux
"A desperate team is coming in tonight. They're going to be fighting to get that win. We've got to be just as desperate. We don't like the way we've been inconsistent here the last little bit." -- Flames defenseman Mark Giordano

Flyers projected lineup

Claude Giroux -- Sean Couturier -- Wayne Simmonds
Jordan Weal -- Nolan Patrick -- Travis Konecny
Michael Raffl -- Valtteri Filppula -- Jakub Voracek
Taylor Leier -- Scott Laughton -- Dale Weise
Ivan Provorov -- Andrew MacDonald
Shayne Gostisbehere -- Robert Hagg
Travis Sanheim -- Brandon Manning
Brian Elliott
Michal Neuvirth
Scratched:Jori Lehtera, Mark Alt
Injured:None
Suspended:Radko Gudas

Flames projected lineup

Johnny Gaudreau -- Sean Monahan -- Micheal Ferland
Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Michael Frolik
Sam Bennett -- Mark Jankowski -- Jaromir Jagr
Garnet Hathaway
-- Curtis Lazar -- Troy Brouwer
Mark Giordano -- Dougie Hamilton
TJ Brodie -- Travis Hamonic
Brett Kulak -- Michael Stone
Mike Smith
David Rittich
Scratched: Matt Stajan, Freddie Hamilton, Matt Bartkowski
Injured:Kris Versteeg (hip)

Status report

Simmonds will replace Voracek on Philadelphia's top line. … Gudas has three games remaining in his 10-game suspension for slashing Winnipeg Jets forward Mathieu Perreault on Nov. 16. … Lazar will play in place of Stajan after being a healthy scratch the past two games. … Giordano will play his 700th NHL game.

Stat pack

Girioux has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past six games. ... Gaudreau has 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in his past 16 games.