San Jose @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 28, 2019 ) Philadelphia 1, San Jose 6

The Philadelphia Flyers have benefited from a season-long dominance at home and a sterling 17-game stretch overall (12-4-1) to find themselves within earshot of the penthouse in the Metropolitan Division. The surging Flyers look to continue their ascent on Tuesday when they host the sputtering San Jose Sharks, who have dropped four in a row.

Philadelphia completed a season sweep of Columbus by winning both ends of a home-and-home set before posting a 4-2 victory over Winnipeg on Saturday afternoon to improve to 21-5-4 at the Wells Fargo Center. Sean Couturier carries a six-game point streak (four goals, two assists) into Tuesday's tilt for the Flyers, who reside five points behind first-place Washington and three in back of Pittsburgh. San Jose appears to be looking toward the future and parted way with a big part of its past on Monday by trading Patrick Marleau to Pittsburgh for a conditional third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. "Patrick is one of the most iconic players to ever wear the Sharks uniform," San Jose general manager Doug Wilson said of the 40-year-old. "Although we have had a disappointing season in San Jose, he deserves every opportunity to have a chance at winning a Stanley Cup, and we're happy to help accommodate that. We wish him the best of luck."

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS California, NBCS Philadelphia

ABOUT THE SHARKS (26-32-4): Marleau wasn't the only player finding his way out of San Jose on Monday, as the Sharks sent forward Barclay Goodrow and a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft to Tampa Bay in exchange for forward Anthony Greco and a first-round selection in June. The 26-year-old Goodrow had three assists in San Jose's 6-1 romp over Philadelphia on Dec. 28, a game perhaps more likely remembered for Timo Meier recording his first career hat trick. The 23-year-old Meier has collected 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his last 11 games to move within one of defenseman Brent Burns for the team lead.

ABOUT THE FLYERS (35-20-7): Philadelphia added depth to its bottom-six forwards by acquiring Nate Thompson from Montreal and Derek Grant from Anaheim prior to the NHL's trade deadline on Monday. "We like our team. We liked our team before today," general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "Our players have earned the right not only to have some additions at the trade deadline but also for the most part to keep their roles. We weren't looking to overhaul our team. We weren't looking to make dramatic changes." Coach Alain Vigneault told reporters that the new acquisitions are expected to contribute on special teams as well as serve as capable participants for the NHL's top faceoff team.

OVERTIME

1. San Jose LW Evander Kane, who leads the team with 21 goals, was held off the scoresheet for the ninth time in 11 games during Sunday's 4-1 setback to the New York Islanders.

2. Flyers D Justin Braun, who spent his first nine NHL seasons with the Sharks, recorded his second three-assist performance in his last four games in Saturday's 4-2 win over Winnipeg.

3. The Sharks acquire D Brandon Davidson from Calgary in exchange for future considerations on Monday.

PREDICTION: Flyers 4, Sharks 2