Philadelphia @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 5, 2019 ) Calgary 3, Philadelphia 2

The goaltenders for the Philadelphia Flyers will begin a meaningful stretch of games in Alberta on Tuesday when Brian Elliott makes his season debut against his former team, the Calgary Flames. Carter Hart is expected to get the call for Wednesday's conclusion of a three-game trek in Edmonton, which is near where he grew up in Sherwood Park, Alberta.

The 34-year-old Elliott, who spent the 2016-17 season with Calgary, recorded his worst goals-against average (2.96) since 2010-11 while making just 26 appearances during an injury-riddled campaign in 2018-19 before signing a one-year, $2 million contract in the offseason. Travis Konecny (team-leading three goals, three assists) and Oskar Lindblom each found the scoresheet in the third consecutive game for the Flyers, who sustained their first blemish of the season with a 3-2 shootout loss versus Vancouver on Saturday. South New Jersey native Johnny Gaudreau, who shares the team lead in goals (three) and assists (four), had two of each in Calgary's two-game series sweep of Philadelphia last season. Gaudreau, however, has been held off the scoresheet in two of his last three contests overall as the Flames fell for the third time in four games with a 3-1 setback at San Jose on Sunday.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN-Plus, NBCS Philadelphia, Sportsnet 360 (Calgary)

ABOUT THE FLYERS (2-0-1): Coach Alain Vigneault praised Jakub Voracek following practice on Monday, two days removed from telling reporters that he didn't like the 30-year-old Czech's "uncharacteristic" decisions with the puck against the Canucks. Voracek, who saw his ice time trimmed to just 14:30 versus Vancouver, set up the first of Sean Couturier's two goals in a 6-5 overtime loss to Calgary on Dec. 12. Captain Claude Giroux had a pair of assists in that game but has set up just one goal for his lone point this season after mustering team-leading totals in both assists (63) and points (85) in 2018-19.

ABOUT THE FLAMES (2-3-1): David Rittich has answered a sterling 27-9-5 mark in 2018-19 by struggling out of the gate this season, surrendering at least four goals in three of his five starts -- including three to Vegas' fourth line on Saturday and six overall in a 6-2 setback. The Flames are expecting much more out of the 27-year-old after essentially swapping Mike Smith to Edmonton and welcoming former Oiler Cam Talbot in the offseason. Rittich received an early exit in his first encounter with Philadelphia last season before turning aside 32 of 34 shots in a 3-2 overtime win over the Flyers on Jan. 5.

OVERTIME

1. Calgary C Elias Lindholm continued his strong start to the season with his third goal in five games on Sunday.

2. Philadelphia D Ivan Provorov, who had two assists versus the Flames last season, is expected to play in his 250th career NHL game on Tuesday.

3. The Flames' 72 penalty minutes are the third most in the NHL entering Monday's games while the Flyers' 18 are the fewest in the league.

PREDICTION: Flames 5, Flyers 3