Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Flyers, 2-1, in overtime in the final meeting between the two teams in 2013.
A rivalry is renewed with the first of four meetings between the Flyer and Penguins on Thursday night. The Battle of Pennsylvania is always anticipated.
For the Flyers, there is no good timing for this game. They are off to the worst start in franchise history, dropping to 1-6-0 following a 3-2 loss to the Canucks on Tuesday.
With this being the final game for the Flyers until next Thursday, this would be the final chance at points of any kind for a good stretch. For a team desperate for points, even getting to overtime would have to feel like a victory.
Of course, for many of the Flyers, getting some individual numbers would also help. Most notably, Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek, a pair of the Flyers top names, are in desperate need of points. Giroux and Voracek have combined for five total points in seven games, all assists. Also without goals on the season are Sean Couturier, Matt Read, and Wayne Simmonds.
This could be a good night for Voracek and Giroux. Voracek scored five goals and added an assist in four games against the Penguins in 2013, while Giroux posted five points – two goals and three assists – in four games as well.
On the other hand, the leading goal scorer for the Flyers is Tye McGinn, who has three in a total of two games.
A polar opposite to the Flyers 1-6-0 record, the Penguins come in with a 5-1-0 record in six games. Leading the way is none other than Sidney Crosby, who has five goals and 12 points in the early portion of the season.
Jussi Jokinen and Craig Adams have also provided a scorer's touch, scoring three goals each.
The Flyers come into the game having scored just 10 goals as a team. The trio of Crosby, Jokinen and Adams have 11 alone. The Penguins as a team have 23.
Other threats for the Penguins are the always dangerous threats of Evgeni Malkin, Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz, all with six points on the season so far.
Defensively, the Penguins still pack a mighty punch even without Kris Letang due to injury. Matt Niskanen, Derek Engelland, Rob Scudari, Brooks Orpik and Paul Martin have filled in admirably in Letang's absence.
Also out with injury is goalie Tomas Vokoun, leaving primary starting duties to Marc-Andre Fleury, who will start in goal on Thursday. That hasn't been a problem for the Penguins though. Fleury is 5-0-0 with a 1.81 GAA and .926 save percentage.
Despite a record of 1-4-0, Flyers goalie Steve Mason, who will also start on Thursday, has a 2.23 GAA and an identical .926 save percentage. Mason is 2-1-1 with a 3.20 GAA and a .908 save percentage.
Special teams is an obvious mismatch tonight. The Penguins power play ranks first in the league. Despite a penalty kill that ranks 22nd in the NHL, the Flyers are in the midst of an 0-for-20 stretch on the power play – 28th overall in the NHL – and sit 18th in penalty kill.
The Penguins are also without James Neal and Matt D'Agostini for tonight's game.
Given the Penguins hot start and the Flyers woes, is tonight the perfect storm? It could be exactly the scenario that has the Flyers coming away with the shocking result.
Kevin Durso is a contributor for Flyerdelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
