Flyers vs. Ducks preview: A disappointing road trip finally ends

Ever since the Flyers’ ten-game winning streak came to a close right before Christmas, the team has been floundering a bit. In fact, Philadelphia is now on a three-game losing streak, all of which came in regulation.

As a result, the team’s playoff cushion is rapidly shrinking. They hold a mere two-point lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, and are now well behind the top three teams in the Metropolitan Division (Columbus, Pittsburgh, New York).

But 2017 brings a new opportunity for the Flyers to recapture their winning ways. Tonight, they face off against the Anaheim Ducks, who currently sit third in the Pacific Division despite having lost more games than they have won (18-12-8).

Philadelphia also will be icing a far better lineup than the one they did in San Jose. Travis Konecny returns after a surprise one-game scratch and both Radko Gudas and Matt Read are now healthy and will be rejoining the team as well. Roman Lyubimov also checks back in, replacing Boyd Gordon. Despite an injury scare against the Sharks, Steve Mason gets the start in goal yet again.

Tonight’s game starts at 8 PM and will be aired on both Comcast Sports Net (locally) and on the NHL Network.

Flyers projected lineup:

Raffl - Giroux - Voracek

Konecny - Schenn - Simmonds

Read - Couturier - Weise

VandeVelde - Bellemare - Lyubimov

Provorov - MacDonald

Del Zotto - Gudas

Manning - Gostisbehere

Mason

Stolarz