5things_MTL

Philadelphia Flyers (33-19-10: 76pts) at Montreal Canadiens (23-29-9: 55pts)
at Bell Centre | Montreal, Quebec
TIME: 7:30 p.m. | TV: NBCSP | RADIO: 97.5 The Fanatic
presented by The Rothman Institute at Jefferson Hospital
QUICK STATS
Season Series: 2-0-0
All-Time Record: 192gp (75-80-37)
Leading Scorers:
PHI: 74-pts, Giroux (22g-52a)
MTL: 37-pts, Pacioretty (17g-20a)

1. FANTASTIC FEBRUARY
Tonight gives the Flyers a possibility to own the outright lead for first place in the Metropolitan Division... Currently sitting at 76 points, the Flyers could overtake first with a win and Capitals (77pts) loss of any kind OR a Capitals regulation loss and a Flyers loss in overtime/shootout... Flyers are tied with the Penguins, who are idle tonight, so a point of any kind will give them second place outright... Tonight is the last game in February for the Flyers, who look for their 10th win of the month for just the second time in franchise history (1975-76: 10-0-4)... At 9-1-2, the Flyers are tied for the most points in the month (20) with Toronto and Nashville.

2. STREAKING CENTRAL
The Flyers have won five straight games and have earned points in 11 straight, posting a 9-0-2 record - and are looking to extend their point streak to 12 consecutive games... In addition, the Flyers have won six in-a-row on the road and are looking for their seventh straight road win, which would match the second-longest road winning streak in franchise history... Nolan Patrick has goals in four straight games and points in five straight (4g-1a), while Giroux has a four-game point streak (3g-5a) and Shayne Gostisbehere has a three-game point streak (5a)... For Montreal, forward Charles Hudon (1g-3a) and defenseman Jeff Petry (2g-2a) each have four-game point streak on the line tonight.
3. HAB-ERDASHERY
The Canadiens have earned points in three straight games, going 1-0-2, but have also dropped seven of their last eight... The Habs will be without the services of Tomas Plekanec, who was traded to Toronto on Sunday, and spent his entire 14-year NHL career with the Canadiens... Carey Price dropped both games against the Flyers this season, but is out indefinitely with a concussion sustained in the last meeting with the Flyers... Antti Niemi figures to get the start - he has a lifetime record of 5-1-0 with a 1.40 GAA and .952 save percentage against the Flyers.
4. AGAINST THE ODDS
The Flyers come into Montreal for the first and only time this season... They won both games so far and are looking for their first season sweep of the Canadiens since going 4-0-0 in 2002-03, which would also be their third ever sweep in a season series against the Habs (1995-96)... If the Flyers intend to sweep they'll be against recent history... They have dropped six straight games in Montreal, going 0-4-2, with their last win coming on Apr. 15, 2013.
5. PLAYERS TO WATCH:
FLYERS (RW: #28 - Claude Giroux)
Giroux is tied for third overall in the NHL's scoring race with 74 points... He has points in four straight games, averaging two points per-game in that stretch with five assists and eight points... He also has four points (1g-3a) in two games of the season series against Montreal this year... Giroux (649pts) needs just one point to tie Tim Kerr for sixth place on the Flyers all-time scoring list with 650 points.
CANADIENS (RW: #11 - Brendan Gallagher)
Gallagher is the only Canadien to have points in both games against the Flyers this season with a goal and an assist... He has also recorded points in four of his last five (1g-3a) and eight of his last 10 (3g-6a)... He went scoreless in the last Habs game, but has not gone two straight games without a point since Jan. 15-17... Against the Flyers in his career, he has six goals and 11 points in 16 meetings.