Philadelphia @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 10, 2018 ) Winnipeg 1, Philadelphia 2

The Philadelphia Flyers rallied from a two-goal, first-period deficit to record a 6-2 victory over Buffalo in the opener of their five-game road trip and face a quick turnaround as they begin a stretch of four contests in Western Canada on Sunday afternoon against the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets saw their season-high four-game winning streak come to an end with Friday's 1-0 home loss to St. Louis in which their third-ranked power play went 0-for-6.

“We’re going to throw a goose egg up every once in a while,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler told reporters. “It’s our job, especially in a close game, to come through there, (but we) weren’t able to do it.” Wheeler, who had his six-game point streak (one goal, nine assists) snapped by the Blues, ranks among the league leaders with 32 assists. Captain Claude Giroux moved ahead of Sean Couturier for the team lead in goals when he scored his 11th of the season on Saturday, and he added three assists as the Flyers netted six unanswered tallies against the Sabres. “He did a (heck) of a job,” Flyers coach Dave Hakstol told reporters. “He’s our captain and stepped up and led the way in a lot of different fashions.”

TV: 3 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia Plus, TSN3, TVA (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE FLYERS (12-12-3): Giroux is riding a four-game point streak during which he has recorded three goals and five assists. James van Riemsdyk played his first game alongside Giroux on the top line Saturday, and Hakstol’s decision paid immediate dividends as the left wing registered a goal and an assist - his first points since Nov. 17. Defenseman Ivan Provorov scored his third goal of the season - and first in 14 games - on Saturday after recording 17 last campaign.

ABOUT THE JETS (17-9-2): Patrick Laine, who is tied for second in the NHL with 21 goals, has been kept off the scoresheet in his last four games after collecting 13 tallies and one assist in his previous seven. The only puck to get past Connor Hellebuyck on Friday deflected off teammate Bryan Little as the goaltender surrendered just one goal for a second straight game after giving up 12 in his previous three starts. Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (concussion) was activated from injured reserve prior to Friday’s game and received a team-high 28 minutes, 56 seconds of ice time.

OVERTIME

1. Philadelphia is just two points ahead of last-place New Jersey in the crowded Eastern Conference and six out of the second wild-card spot.

2. Winnipeg D Josh Morrissey (lower body) is expected to return to the lineup Sunday after a two-game absence.

3. Flyers G Michal Neuvirth (lower body) is expected to get the start on Sunday after surrendering six goals on 22 shots against the New York Islanders in his only other appearance this season.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Flyers 2