2. DESERT HEAT
While the Flyers return home for a quick one-game tilt, the Coyotes are in the midst of a nine-day, five-game road trip through the east coast… The Coyotes are the only winless team in the NHL at 0-10-1 and are tied with the 1943-44 New York Rangers for the longest winless streak to start a season in NHL history… A loss tonight would make them the first NHL team in history to open the season on a 12-game winless streak… Arizona has allowed four or more goals in nine of their 11 games so far this season.
3. THE YOUNG AND THE OLD
The Flyers could have three rookies in tonight's lineup with the recent recall of Samuel Morin… Along with Gostisbehere, the Flyers average age of the seven defensemen is currently at 23.8 years… Despite having several young players, the Coyotes defense is more veteran than rookie with the seven players on their blueline having an average age of 28.3… Entering tonight, the Flyers have only two defenseman who have played 150 games or more in the NHL (Gudas & Gostisbehere), while the Coyotes have five of their seven defensemen who have appeared in over 500 games in the NHL.
4. THIS, THAT & THE OTHER
THIS: The Flyers have 25 of their 38 goals this season at even strength and have recorded 10 of their last 11 goals at even strength.
THAT:The Coyotes have more than a fair share of Flyers connections… Head Coach Rick Tocchet played parts of 11 years as a Flyer, recording 508 points (232g-276a) and was captain in 1991-92… Nick Cousins (2014-17), Zac Rinaldo (2011-15) and Luke Schenn (2013-16) all played for the Flyers within the last two seasons.
THE OTHER: Since entering the league in 2010-11, Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson leads all NHL d-men in game-winning goals (25) and is tied for the most overtime goals (7).
5. PLAYERS TO WATCH:
FLYERS (LW: #93 - Jakub Voracek)
Three straight multi-point games will make you tonight's player to watch… Voracek has 16 points on the year, which ranks third overall in the NHL's scoring race while his 14 assists are second in the league… After going the first nine games without a goal, Voracek has scored in two straight games… Tonight he plays his 698th game in the NHL and this is his 106th consecutive game in the lineup.
COYOTES (C: #9 - Clayton Keller)
The dynamic, 19-year-old leads all NHL rookies in both goals (8) and overall points (12), while also leading all players on his team in both categories… Keller comes into tonight's game with a five-game point streak where he has posted five goals and eight points, while averaging over 20 minutes of ice-time per-game (20:16) in those five outings.
