GAME NOTES
QUICK STATS
Season Series: 2-0-0
All-Time Record: 294gp (159-94-30-11)
Leading Scorer:
PHI - 25 pts: James van Riemsdyk (10g-15a)
PIT - 18 pts: Sidney Crosby (7g-11a)
1. HI, HEY, HELLO
The Flyers travel to Pittsburgh for a three-game set marking the first time in club history they will play the same team in the same city three straight times... This is the first meeting with Pittsburgh since the opening two games of the season where they swept the Pens, outscoring them 11-5... The Flyers have earned points against the Pens in four straight (3-0-1) and in six of the last seven meetings at Pittsburgh, going 3-1-3... Overall, they have a 14-4-4 record in regular season games at PPG Paints Arena since it opened in 2010.
2. MARCH MADNESS
The Flyers will tie a record and play 17 games in the 31 days of March for the fourth time in team history and first since the 1997-98 season... Overall, they have a 31-19-6-5 March record against the Pens... Since the 2014-15 season, the Penguins have the best mark of any team in March with a record of 50-23-10 for 110 points in 83 games... Claude Giroux has the most points in March (148pts, 43g-105a) than any other month in his career... As does Sidney Crosby, who has 234 points (81g-153a) in 186 games.
3. PENS LATELY
The Flyers will face the Penguins for the first time since former GM Ron Hextall took the helm in Pittsburgh... Since that point, the Pens are 6-3-0, but have dropped two of their last three games... They also open up a five-game homestand and are 7-1-0 at PPG Paints Arena this season... The Pens lead the NHL in winning percentage in one-goal games, going 9-1-1 (.863)... They have also had eight games decided past regulation, which is tied for the second-most in the NHL so far this season (CHI: 9).
4. THIS, THAT & THE OTHER
THIS: The Flyers are coming off back-to-back shutouts and have not allowed a goal in 136:33 of play, last surrendering a goal 3:27 into the third period on Feb. 24 vs. NY Rangers ... THAT: The Penguins are tied for the NHL lead (with WPG) for the most wins when they trail after the second period going 4-6-1... THE OTHER: The Pens are coming off a 2-0 shutout loss to NY Islanders - they have not been shutout in two straight game since the 2009-10 season (Nov. 7 & 10), while the Flyers have not shut out their opponent three straight times since the 1999-2000 season (Oct. 20, 22 & 24).
5. PLAYERS TO WATCH
FLYERS (C: #14 - Sean Couturier)
For the second straight game, he's the player to watch because he is riding a six-game point where he has 10 points (5g-5a)... A point today would be a new career high for Couturier... Three of his five goals have been game-winning tallies.
PENGUINS (LW: #59 - Jake Guentzel)
With Crosby out tonight due to COVID protocol, Guentzel is the player to keep an eye on... Prior to the team being shut out in their last game, he had a four-game point streak with five points (2g-3a) and has logged over 22 minutes of ice time in his last two games... Against the Flyers, Guentzel has 12 points (4g-8a) in 13 career games, but just two points (both assists) in his last five meetings.
