Philadelphia @ Edmonton preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 6, 2017 ) Philadelphia 4, Edmonton 2

The slumping Philadelphia Flyers look to rebound from a pair of dispiriting losses when they continue their five-game road trip Friday against the red-hot Edmonton Oilers. The Flyers opened the trek with a win in Buffalo but were routed 7-1 at Winnipeg on Sunday before coughing up a two-goal lead in the final 1:07 of regulation and losing 6-5 in overtime at Calgary three nights later.

Philadelphia coach Dave Hakstol told reporters the four penalties his team took in the third period on Wednesday drained some energy from the bench and set the table for the two late goals by the Flames, but the Flyers did plenty wrong in the final 20 minutes of regulation. “(With a two-goal lead), we’re still trying to make fancy plays that end up turnovers in the neutral zone when you should be locking down a game,” Hakstol said. “Not close to the kind of third period that we need.” Edmonton was outshot 17-2 in the third period on Thursday but limited the damage to one goal against and earned a point before losing 5-4 in overtime at Winnipeg despite two more assists from captain Connor McDavid (team-high 45 points). The Oilers have recorded points in eight of their last nine games and are 8-2-2 since Ken Hitchcock replaced Todd McLellan as coach, although they have given up nine goals in their last two contests.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia Plus, Sportsnet West (Edmonton)

ABOUT THE FLYERS (12-13-4): Captain Claude Giroux, who notched an assist in Wednesday’s loss, has recorded 16 of his team-leading 38 points in the last 10 contests while Jakub Voracek is riding a six-game point streak. Sean Couturier registered his third two-goal performance in his last 11 games on Wednesday and added an assist to push his total to 23 points - one behind Voracek for second on the team. Michal Neuvirth returned to Philadelphia to be with his wife for the birth of their child, fellow goaltender Brian Elliott (lower body) is not quite ready to go and Alex Lyon was called up as an option to Anthony Stolarz for Friday's contest.

ABOUT THE OILERS (17-12-3): Mikko Koskinen (10-3-1, 2.20 goals-against average, .927 save percentage), who has allowed only 12 goals in his last seven appearances, should be back in the crease after being rested on Thursday. McDavid has accumulated 12 points in his last seven contests while Leon Draisaitl has recorded nine of his 39 in the last four games after setting up a pair of tallies on Thursday. Defenseman Darnell Nurse scored his third goal in four games on Thursday and has registered six of his 12 points over the last five contests while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has collected four goals and two assists in his last five games.

OVERTIME

1. Edmonton RW Alex Chiasson, who attended training camp on a tryout basis, is third on the team with 13 goals in 26 games.

2. Philadelphia RW Wayne Simmonds has scored 10 goals this season and needs three to become the 15th player to record 200 for the franchise.

3. The Flyers won both meetings last season, allowing a total of three goals in the process.

PREDICTION: Oilers 4, Flyers 3