Flyers vs. Blue Jackets
7 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet
The Flyers (29-23-11) will try to get back on track when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets (27-30-8) at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night.
Here are five things you need to know before puck drop:
1. Familiar face
Scott Hartnell has been a thorn in the Flyers' side since he was traded by GM Ron Hextall to Columbus in exchange for R.J. Umberger two summers ago.
The 33-year-old, who leads the Blue Jackets in scoring with 43 points in 63 games, is proving he still has a lot left in the tank, too. He's one goal shy of 300 in his career and would love to earn it against his former club.
"We have to make this one count in Philly. I like playing there obviously," Hartnell told the team's official website. "You get excited for those games. It will definitely be a big test for us."
Hartnell scored his 21st goal of the season against Edmonton on Friday. He's reached the 20-goal plateau nine times in his last 11 seasons.
NHL
And since being dealt to Columbus, Hartnell has racked up 49 goals and 103 points in 140 games. The player he was traded for? Umberger has just 10 goals and 25 points in 105 games. Oh, yeah. Hartnell's also recorded two goals and six assists in seven matchups with the Flyers since the swap. Ouch.
2. A little adversity
As if it wasn't daunting enough that the Flyers face a five-point deficit for the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot.
The orange and black are already without Jakub Voracek for two weeks and they could be down Brayden Schenn for at least a game as well.
Schenn is calling himself a game-time decision for Saturday's tilt after hitting his hard hard on the ice during a third-period scrum in the 4-0 loss to the Oilers on Thursday. He sat out the final six minutes of the game and appeared to be dazed.
The timing of the injury was unfortunate for Schenn. He has six of his career-high 21 goals to go along with six assists in his last nine games and has been playing arguably the best hockey of his career.
And a second straight loss to one of the worst teams in the NHL would be damaging to the Flyers' playoff chances. The last-place Blue Jackets, a team the Flyers have not had much success against lately, do in fact present a challenge. It would be that much tougher if Schenn is unable to go.
3. No Saad
The Blue Jackets know for sure that their leading goal scorer will miss Saturday’s action.
Brandon Saad, who has 24 markers and 41 points in 2015-16, suffered an upper-body injury Friday night and did not travel with the team to Philadelphia. The 23-year-old notched an assist but logged just 10:04 of ice time prior to leaving with the injury.
Columbus is also without goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (lower body) and defenseman Jack Johnson (upper body). Both players are on injured reserve.
4. Keep an eye on …
Flyers: With Voracek out and Schenn's status still up in the air, the Flyers will need their captain to lead the way Saturday. Claude Giroux, who has a team-high 54 points in 60 games, has seven assists and eight points in his last five outings and has averaged over a point-per-game since the start of February (three goals, 12 assists, 13 games). Even better, Giroux has the most points over the course of his career in the month of March with 88. He has, however, been held scoreless in two meetings with Columbus this season.
Blue Jackets: Boone Jenner provides a little bit of everything. The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder has some scoring ability — 23 goals in 65 games this season — but isn't afraid to mix it up physically, either. He's a well-respected player in the Jackets' locker room because of his fearless play and has the versatility to play all three forward positions. Jenner recorded a goal and an assist in a 6-3 win over Edmonton on Friday but has been held off the scoresheet in two games against the Flyers in the 2015-16 season series.
5. This and that
• The Flyers have just one win in their last 10 meetings with Columbus dating back to December of 2013. They're 1-6-3 during that stretch.
• Seven of the Flyers' next eight games will come against teams currently holding a playoff spot.
• The Blue Jackets have earned at least a point in the standings in 14 of their last 17 games (10-3-4).
• Steve Mason is 2-3-2 with a .901 save percentage and 3.00 goals-against average in seven career starts versus Columbus.
• Curtis McElhinney has made six career starts against the Flyers, going 5-1-0 with a .917 save percentage and 2.99 goals-against average.