Philadelphia @ Vegas preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 21, 2019 ) Vegas 2, Philadelphia 6

The Philadelphia Flyers haven't put their best foot forward during their six-game road trip, losing two of three to the California contingent while yielding four first-period goals in their last contest. The Flyers look for a better performance on Thursday when they attempt to complete a season sweep of the Vegas Golden Knights.

Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux extended his point streak to four games (one goal, three assists) after scoring his team co-leading 12th goal of the season in the third period of a 5-3 setback to Los Angeles on Tuesday. "We came out hard for the last period and scored a couple goals and made it a hockey game, so I think we'll take that momentum into the game on Thursday," goaltender Carter Hart said. Hart will need to keep a keen eye on Jonathan Marchessault, who scored twice on Tuesday as Vegas improved to 6-2-1 in its past nine games with a 5-2 victory over Anaheim. "Early on it wasn't there, but in December we've been better," the 29-year-old Marchessault said. "We're a better team overall. The month of December has been positive and it's on us to keep it going."

TIME: 10 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Philadelphia, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, AT&T Rocky Mountains

ABOUT THE FLYERS (22-13-5): Jakub Voracek notched a pair of assists in his second consecutive contest to boost his point total to nine (two goals, seven assists) in his last seven games. The 30-year-old Voracek, whose 23 assists are one shy of Travis Konecny for the team lead, set up Kevin Hayes to ignite Philadelphia's four-goal second period in a 6-2 victory over visiting Vegas on Oct. 21. While Brian Elliott made 33 saves in that contest, Hart came on in relief of the veteran against the Kings and will attempt to improve upon a dismal 2-7-1 road record when he gets the start on Thursday.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (22-15-6): Marchessault scored in the first meeting with Philadelphia and enters the rematch after netting 10 of his 15 goals in December. Mark Stone, who shares the team lead in goals (16) with Max Pacioretty, has pieced together 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in his last 11 games. Like Stone, Pacioretty is also riding a four-game point streak and has 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in his last 11 contests.

OVERTIME

1. Vegas G Marc-Andre Fleury has flustered Philadelphia in his career, posting a 29-19-2 record with three shutouts in 56 starts.

2. Flyers LW James van Riemsdyk, who is tied with Giroux and Hayes for the team lead in goals, has failed to dent the scoresheet during the road trip.

3. Vegas RW Reilly Smith scored in the first meeting with Philadelphia and enters the rematch having collected seven points (two goals, five assists) in his last six games overall.

PREDICTION: Golden Knights 5, Flyers 2