Philadelphia @ Ottawa preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 7, 2019 ) Ottawa 3, Philadelphia 4

The Philadelphia Flyers came out flat the last time the club left the City of Brotherly Love, with the team's morale absorbing a hit as it was outscored 14-5 during a fruitless three-game trek. The Flyers posted consecutive resounding victories in their return home and look to remain on track Saturday when they hit the road to face the Ottawa Senators.

James van Riemsdyk recorded his second two-goal performance of the season on Thursday as Philadelphia took advantage of a short-handed Buffalo club and breezed to a 6-1 romp. The 30-year-old has turned the page from the disastrous start to the season by collecting 10 (six goals, four assists) of his 19 points over the last 11 games, including a pair of assists in the Flyers' 4-3 victory over Ottawa on Dec. 7. The Senators won the first meeting between the teams with a 2-1 triumph on Nov. 15 at home, where they improved to 10-5-0 this season on Thursday by kicking off a four-game stretch at Canadian Tire Centre with a 5-4 overtime victory against Nashville. Anthony Duclair scored in the extra session as his 10th goal in eight games boosted his season total to a career high-tying 20, set with Arizona in 2015-16.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia-Plus, Sportsnet1, TVAS2 (Ottawa)

ABOUT THE FLYERS (19-11-5): Tension escalated between the clubs after Travis Konecny sustained a concussion following an open-ice hit by Ottawa defenseman Mark Borowiecki two weeks ago, leading to the Philadelphia forward sitting out the next three games. Konecny has returned with a vengeance, setting up a goal in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over Anaheim before adding three more helpers two nights later to boost his team-leading totals in assists (21) and points (32). Offseason acquisition Kevin Hayes has flipped the switch over his last 15 games, highlighting his 12 points (four goals, eight assists) over that stretch with two-assist performances in two of his last three contests.

ABOUT THE SENATORS (15-18-3): Duclair is enjoying a December to remember with 13 of his club-best 28 points being recorded in the month, with a two-goal performance in Philadelphia two weeks ago serving as one of the highlights. "It's a good feeling," the 24-year-old said. "I'm just happy the way things have been going this year. I want to keep going. I think I've obviously got a lot of hockey left. ... Personally, I think the confidence is pretty high. Highest it's ever been, for sure." Defenseman Thomas Chabot, who leads the team with 19 assists, may be still catching his breath after answering 37:50 of ice time in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime loss at Tampa Bay by playing nearly 34 minutes versus the Flyers.

OVERTIME

1. Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion told TSN 1200 on Friday that Anders Nilsson will be placed on injured reserve with a concussion and that fellow G Craig Anderson (knee) is ready to play.

2. The Flyers went 3-for-5 on the power play on Thursday after going 1-for-18 in their previous eight games.

3. Philadelphia C Sean Couturier has recorded five points (one goal, four assists) in his last three games.

PREDICTION: Flyers 3, Senators 2