Head coach: John Tortorella (First season)
Season Stats:Goals per game: 2.47 (31st) | Scoring defense: 2.87 (12th) | PP: 16.0 percent (28th) | PK: 77.6 percent (18th)
The narrative: With the welcome back out of the way last Thursday night, Tortorella comes to Columbus hoping the right the Philly ship. The Flyers were one of the stories of the early going in the NHL, racing out to a 7-3-2 start and embracing a hard-working, tight-checking mentality installed by the former CBJ coach. But last Thursday night's 5-2 setback against the Blue Jackets started what has become a three-game skid for the Flyers, who have been outscored 14-4 in that span.
2022-23 leaders:Philadelphia has been banged up at the forward position -- Cam Atkinson, Sean Couturier and James van Riemsdyk are all out -- but the team is still led up front by Travis Konecny and Kevin Hayes. Konecny is the only player on the squad averaging at least a point per game, posting a 6-11-17 and riding a six-game point streak, while Hayes has three goals among his 14 points. Tony DeAngelo is the leading scorer from the blue line with a 3-6-9 line.
Carter Hart, meanwhile, has been one of the best goaltenders in the league, posting a 6-2-2 record, 2.18 GAA and .937 save percentage. Per MoneyPuck.com, he's No. 1 in the NHL by far in goals saved above average per 60 minutes at 5-on-5.
What's new: Add veteran defenseman Ryan Ellis to the list of injuries and you can see the Flyers are missing many of their longstanding NHLers. It's a young squad, perhaps one given to ups and downs, including the recent cold streak. Special teams haven't helped - Philly has given up four power-play goals in the last two games plus a shorthanded tally in weekend setbacks vs. Ottawa (4-1) and Dallas (5-1).
Trending: Columbus has won three of the last four games over the past two seasons, including Thursday's victory over Philadelphia that moved the Jackets to 22-9-2 vs. the Flyers since the start of the 2013-14 season.
Former CBJ:Tortorella is joined on the bench by longtime assistant Brad Shaw, who worked with him in Columbus. Atkinson, the CBJ franchise's No. 2 player all-time in games played and goals scored, has returned to practice but is not yet ready to play because of an upper-body injury. Lukas Sedlak was claimed on waivers early this season and has a goal and three points in 11 games.