Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 17, 2019 ) Philadelphia 2, Pittsburgh 1

The Philadelphia Flyers have become quite busy of late, as their comfortable seven-game slate over an 18-day stretch has been followed by four contests over the last six. The Flyers look to find the extra gear in that fourth game on Tuesday when they travel across the Keystone State to visit the rival Pittsburgh Penguins.

Philadelphia extended its winning streak to three games with a 7-4 victory over Columbus on Saturday before failing to find its legs the following night in the second half of a back-to-back with a 5-3 setback to the New York Islanders. Travis Konecny continues to pay dividends on the six-year, $33 million contract he signed last month, scoring in both contests to give him at least one point in five straight games (three goals, three assists) and in nine of 10 contests this season. While the Flyers have been active, the well-rested Penguins will compete for the first time since they snapped a three-game losing skid with a 3-0 victory over Dallas on Saturday. Superstar captain Sidney Crosby returned to practice on Monday without issue, two days removed from being hit in the face by a shot from teammate Kris Letang in the second period.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TVAS, NBCS Philadelphia, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

ABOUT THE FLYERS (5-4-1): While captain Claude Giroux has answered a slow start to the season with six points (two goals, four assists) in his last six games, promising goaltender Carter Hart has yet to locate his game during the early stages of the campaign. "You've just got to find a way right now, and for me, I just have to find a way to get back into my old rhythm," said the 21-year-old Hart, who has allowed 12 goals on 43 shots en route to being pulled in two of his last three starts. "Right now, I'm just not playing where I feel I should be at, and I know I'm better than that. I just have to keep working." Fellow netminder Brian Elliott turned aside all 19 shots he faced in relief of Hart on Sunday and earned NHL Third Star of the Week honors the following day after posting a 3-0-0 record with a 2.02 goals-against average and .933 save percentage.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (7-5-0): Bryan Rust made quite the impact in his season debut, returning from a hand injury sustained while blocking a shot in the preseason to score on a wraparound in the third period against the Stars. The 27-year-old also delivered on his pregame claim that he wouldn't hesitate to block a shot in his return, doing so on a blast from former Pittsburgh defenseman Jamie Oleksiak. "The team has obviously been coming together here over the past few weeks," Rust said. "I was just hoping to kind of jump back in seamlessly."

OVERTIME

1. Crosby has tormented Philadelphia throughout his career, recording 99 points (41 goals, 58 assists) in 67 contests.

2. Flyers RW Jakub Voracek resides one goal shy of 200 for his career after scoring in back-to-back games.

3. Pittsburgh G Matt Murray, who made 25 saves to record his 11th career shutout on Saturday, posted a 1-0-2 mark versus Philadelphia after turning aside 119 of 126 shots in three meetings last season.

PREDICTION: Penguins 4, Flyers 2