Flyers vs. Maple Leafs
7 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet
The Flyers (20-15-8) on Tuesday night return to the Wells Fargo Center for their first meeting with the Toronto Maple Leafs (16-20-7) this season. They'll meet the Leafs two more times.
Here are five things to get you ready for the contest:
1. Staying hot
The Flyers enter Tuesday's matchup with the Maple Leafs riding a six-game point streak.
Last weekend, the orange and black picked up three points against the New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings. They're now two points out of the second wild-card spot.
At the beginning of this six-game point streak, the Flyers sat nine points behind the Rangers for the third and final playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division.
So this stretch is inspiring, especially for those who want to see playoff hockey.
NHL
What's behind the Flyers' recent success?
It's pretty simple. They're scoring more goals — a lot more goals — and defending well.
During their six-game point streak, the Flyers are averaging 3.00 goals and allowing 1.83.
Let's put that in perspective: On Jan. 2, the Flyers were the second-lowest scoring team in the NHL at 2.11 goals per game. They're now 28th in the league at 2.23 per game.
2. Weal wait another game
The anticipated debut of Jordan Weal will have to wait another game.
That's because Ryan White avoided suspension — a source confirmed to CSNPhilly.com's Tim Panaccio Monday — for his hit to the head of Detroit forward Tomas Jurco during the Flyers' 2-1 shootout win over the Red Wings on Sunday night.
White received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the hit, which occurred just two minutes and 20 seconds into the game. The Flyers killed it off and avoided disaster.
Still, it was not a smart decision by White. Jurco did not have the puck and it was a dangerous and unnecessary hit the league wants to eliminate.
White provides a lot of good energy to the Flyers, but hits like that are unacceptable.
Will head coach Dave Hakstol sit White as a result?
Doesn't seem so, as it appears White will stay in the lineup and Weal sits again.
"Jordan's gonna come in the lineup when it's the right time for our team," Hakstol said Monday. "I know that’s a pretty broad statement, but I do mean that.
"It’s not about any one individual player right now. It’s about what our team needs and we’ll evaluate that day by day.”
3. Lowly Leafs
This is not a good Maple Leafs team under head coach Mike Babcock.
Toronto comes into Philadelphia losing its fifth straight game.
At 16 wins, the Leafs have the fewest victories in the NHL.
With 38 points, they're 15th in the Eastern Conference and 29th in the NHL.
There's not a lot to be excited about in Toronto.
The Leafs have scored one goal three times and were shut out once during their current five-game losing streak.
If they lose Tuesday, they'll have two six-game skids this season.
4. Keep an eye on …
Flyers: Let's go with Jakub Voracek, who now has 16 points in his last 14 games — four goals and 12 assists. Voracek set up Claude Giroux with a beautiful pass Sunday against Detroit and then beat Petr Mrazek in the shootout to win it for the Flyers. With 26 assists, Voracek is now sitting just outside the top 10 in the NHL in helpers. He's back.
Leafs: Not much to pick from here, especially with former Flyer James van Riemsdyk out. So why not keep an eye on Toronto's leading scorer Leo Komarov, who has 16 goals and 30 points. The 28-year-old already has four more points in 19 fewer games than he played last season.
5. This and that
• van Riemsdyk (broken ankle) will miss at least five more weeks.
• Toronto starting goalie James Reimer's .934 save percentage ranks second in the NHL.
• Steve Mason is 3-0-1 with a 1.69 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage during the Flyers' current six-game point streak. He's expected to start against the Leafs.
• The Flyers are 6-0-2 in their last eight home games.
• In their last 10 games, the Leafs are 2 for 37 on the power play.