Flyers Gaining Momentum in Playoff Race

The Philadelphia Flyers have found their stride, winning three straight games as they continue their push for a playoff spot. Coming off a dominant 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, the Flyers will look to complete a home-and-home sweep on Thursday night.

With 12 goals scored in their last two games, Philadelphia is showing renewed energy following the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Noah Cates, who ended an 11-game goal drought on Tuesday, emphasized the team’s refreshed mindset.

“We’re excited to come to the rink, to get to work and play in these games again,” Cates said.

Bobby Brink contributed four points in the latest victory, while Matvei Michkov continued his strong rookie campaign with two assists, giving him seven points in his last four games. Tyson Foerster has also been productive, tallying three goals and two assists in his last five outings.

Despite their recent success, the Flyers remain five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Their biggest concern heading into Pittsburgh is their 0-4-1 road skid, something they’ll need to overcome to stay in the playoff race.

Penguins in Desperate Need of a Turnaround

The Penguins are reeling, having lost four straight games while being outscored 22-9 during that stretch. Their latest defeat against the Flyers was their third straight home loss, as they’ve struggled at PPG Paints Arena with a 1-5-1 record in their last seven games.

Tuesday’s game saw Pittsburgh manage just 24 shots on goal, with Philip Tomasino scoring their lone tally. Erik Karlsson stressed the importance of staying focused despite the recent struggles.

“If you start thinking big picture, it might get a little bit discouraging,” Karlsson said. “We still got a lot of hockey left. … We just got to stay in the moment and try and find it for each day.”

Sidney Crosby, who had recorded points in seven consecutive games, was held scoreless Tuesday. However, he has been productive at home against the Flyers, registering a goal and three assists in his last two matchups in Pittsburgh. Evgeni Malkin has also dominated against Philadelphia, with 15 points in his last 10 home games against them.

Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic has started the last two games for Pittsburgh but has struggled, allowing 11 goals in those contests. Before that, he had posted a solid .937 save percentage over five starts.

Goaltending Battle

Philadelphia’s Samuel Ersson has been solid against Pittsburgh, stopping 54 of 57 shots in their two wins over the Penguins this month. Backup Ivan Fedotov, who last played on Feb. 6, has lost seven straight starts and may not see action.

For Pittsburgh, Nedeljkovic could get the start again, but with his recent struggles, the team may consider turning to Tristan Jarry for a spark.

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Keys to the Game

• Philadelphia must shake off its road struggles (0-4-1 in last five) to extend its win streak.
• Pittsburgh needs contributions from its stars, particularly Crosby and Malkin, to turn things around.
• Goaltending will be crucial, with both teams dealing with inconsistency in net.

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