(Kate Frese/SB Nation)
By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
It is gut-check time for the Flyers. After grabbing points in 12 straight games, including wins in 10 of those games, the Flyers have lost three straight games, gaining just one point in the standings in the process.
The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Flyers, as a stretch of four games in six days begins with the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, who are starting to heat up at the right time again.
With these two teams sitting in second and third in the Metropolitan Division and separated by just one point, this is a potential playoff preview for sure. First place in the division is also on the line. Pittsburgh is one point behind Washington in the standings. The Flyers are two points back.
Game time is set for 8 p.m.
Team Leaders
| Philadelphia Flyers | GP | G | A | P | Pittsburgh Penguins | GP | G | A | P |
| Claude Giroux | 66 | 23 | 55 | 78 | Evgeni Malkin | 63 | 37 | 45 | 82 |
| Jake Voracek | 66 | 14 | 57 | 71 | Phil Kessel | 67 | 27 | 49 | 76 |
| Sean Couturier | 66 | 29 | 34 | 63 | Sidney Crosby | 67 | 22 | 48 | 70 |
| Shayne Gostisbehere | 62 | 10 | 40 | 50 | Kris Letang | 64 | 6 | 34 | 40 |
| Wayne Simmonds | 59 | 20 | 17 | 37 | Derick Brassard | 62 | 19 | 21 | 40 |
| Player to Watch | |
| 17 Wayne Simmonds | 71 Evgeni Malkin |
| Last 5 Games: 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E | Last 5 Games: 3 G, 6 A, 9 P, +3 |
| Goalie Matchup | |
| 34 Petr Mrazek | 35 Tristan Jarry |
| 11-9-4, 2.90 GAA, .906 SV% | 12-5-2, 2.69 GAA, .913 SV% |
Things have been rough for Petr Mrazek on this three-game losing streak. In the last three games, he has allowed 14 goals after allowing just four in his first three games with the Flyers. Dave Hakstol has already said that Mrazek and Alex Lyon will split starts in the back-to-back over the next two days. Expect Mrazek to get the start at home in a divisional matchup.
The Penguins are doing what they can in goal without Matt Murray, who is out with a concussion after taking a shot to the head in practice. Tristan Jarry has proven to be a solid backup for Murray this season, with 12 wins and a 2.69 GAA. Jarry also filled in for Murray in Pittsburgh's first win over the Flyers in November.
Flyers Projected Lineup
Injuries: Brian Elliott, Michal Neuvirth
Scratches: Dale Weise, Matt Read, Taylor Leier, Johnny Oduya
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| 28 Claude Giroux | 14 Sean Couturier | 11 Travis Konecny |
| 54 Oskar Lindblom | 19 Nolan Patrick | 93 Jake Voracek |
| 40 Jordan Weal | 51 Valtteri Filppula | 17 Wayne Simmonds |
| 15 Jori Lehtera | 21 Scott Laughton | 12 Michael Raffl |
| Defense | ||
| 9 Ivan Provorov | 53 Shayne Gostisbehere | |
| 8 Robert Hagg | 47 Andrew MacDonald | |
| 23 Brandon Manning | 3 Radko Gudas | |
| Goalie | ||
| 34 Petr Mrazek |
Lineup Notes
Wayne Simmonds and Andrew MacDonald come off the injured list and back into the lineup for Wednesday's game. Simmonds replaces Taylor Leier in the lineup. MacDonald slots back in with Robert Hagg on the second pair with Johnny Oduya coming out with an injury. The rest of the lines remain the same.
Penguins Projected Lineup
Injuries: Matt Murray
Scratches: Zach Aston-Reese, Carter Rowney, Matt Hunwick
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| 59 Jake Guentzel | 87 Sidney Crosby | 72 Patric Hornqvist |
| 62 Carl Hagelin | 71 Evgeni Malkin | 17 Bryan Rust |
| 12 Dominik Simon | 19 Derick Brassard | 81 Phil Kessel |
| 34 Tom Kuhnhackl | 15 Riley Sheahan | 43 Conor Sheary |
| Defense | ||
| 8 Brian Dumoulin | 58 Kris Letang | |
| 3 Olli Maatta | 2 Chad Ruhwedel | |
| 6 Jamie Oleksiak | 4 Justin Schultz | |
| Goalie | ||
| 35 Tristan Jarry |
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (13th, 20th at home), Penguins (1st, 1st on road)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (29th, 29th at home), Penguins (12th, 3rd on road)
- Recent History vs. Penguins
- Nov. 27, 2017 – Penguins 5, Flyers 4 (F/OT) (at PIT)
- Jan. 2, 2018 – Penguins 5, Flyers 1 (at PHI)
- Flyers leaders vs. Penguins
- Claude Giroux – 42 GP, 14 G, 29 A, 43 P
- Shayne Gostisbehere – 10 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 P
- Jake Voracek – 30 GP, 17 G, 17 A, 34 P
- Petr Mrazek – 6 GP, 2-4-0, 4.03 GAA
- Milestone Watch
- Sean Couturier needs one goal to reach 100 for his career.
- Jake Voracek needs five assists to reach 300 as a Flyer.
- Claude Giroux needs seven points to pass Eric Lindros for 5th all-time in Flyers history.
Where to Watch
TV: NBCSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
