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Flyers-Blackhawks preview: Meeting of struggling teams

The Flyers are trying to bounce back from a 4-3 OT loss to the NHL's worst team, Arizona.

Arizona goalie Scott Wedgewood stops the puck against Flyers center Sean Couturier, who had two goals in Monday’s 4-3 OT loss to the Coyotes.
Arizona goalie Scott Wedgewood stops the puck against Flyers center Sean Couturier, who had two goals in Monday’s 4-3 OT loss to the Coyotes.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
    by Sam Carchidi | Columnist
    Published 

Blackhawks (5-5-2) vs. Flyers (6-5-1)

WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday.

WHERE: United Center.

BROADCAST: TV, NBCSN; radio, 97.5 FM.

SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: Twitter, @BroadStBull; @samdonnellon.

KEY PLAYERS: Chicago has lost five of its last six games, beating lowly Arizona for its only win in that span. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville was unhappy with Chicago's intensity level at practice Tuesday and had the players skating laps at the end of the session.

The Blackhawks are expected to use goalie Corey Crawford, who is 5-4 with a 2.12 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. Crawford, however, has struggled mightily in four career games against the Flyers: a 1-3 record with a 3.51 GAA and .855 save percentage.

Flyers killer Patrick Kane leads Chicago with 12 points, and Brandon Saad tops the Hawks with six goals.

The Flyers, who are trying to bounce back from a 4-3 overtime loss to worst-in-the-NHL Arizona,  have four players averaging more than a point per game: Jake Voracek (16 points), the sizzling Sean Couturier (15), Claude Giroux (14), and Shayne Gostisbehere (13). Couturier has eight points, including five goals, in his last four games. Dating to last season, he has 32 points and a plus-28 rating in his last 32 games.

Gostisbehere and rookie center Nolan Patrick will miss the game because of apparent concussion-like symptoms.

The Flyers have lost three of their last four games (1-2-1).

HEAD TO HEAD: This is the first meeting between the teams this season; they will also play Nov. 9 at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers have a 60-46-30 record in the all-time series, including a 1-1 mark last season.

In Chicago's 7-4, early-season win over the Flyers at the United Center last year, Ivan Provorov was minus-5. He has rebounded and become the Flyers' best defenseman. By far.

FLYERS' COMING GAMES:

Thursday: 8 p.m. at St. Louis.

Saturday: 7 p.m. vs. Colorado.

Nov. 9: 7 p.m. vs. Chicago.