Carolina @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 7, 2020 ) Philadelphia 4, Carolina 5

The red-hot Philadelphia Flyers are making a run for the Metropolitan Division title as they put their seven-game winning streak on the line against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. Philadelphia moved to within one point of first-place Washington in the Metro with a 5-2 victory over the Capitals on Wednesday and has nearly erased a 13-point deficit by going 16-4-1 since Jan. 13.

Perhaps the Hurricanes should consider signing David Ayres seeing as they haven't won since the Zamboni driver helped them prevail at Toronto on Feb. 22 in emergency fashion. That won't happen of course, but Carolina hasn't tasted victory since its top two goaltenders - Petr Mrazek (lower-body) and James Reimer (concussion) - were injured that night. Alex Nedeljkovic (0-1-1), last season's AHL Goaltender of the Year, and Anton Forsberg (0-1-0) have allowed 11 goals and combined for an .874 save percentage in three games while virtually splitting time since pressed into service. The tailspin has dropped the Hurricanes three points out of playoff position in the Eastern Conference, but they have four games in hand on top wild card Columbus, which leads Carolina by four.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NBC Sports Network, NBCS Philadelphia

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (35-24-5): Adding to the club's woes is the absence of three top defensemen in Dougie Hamilton (broken leg), Brett Pesce (shoulder) and Sami Vatanen (leg), who are all out indefinitely. Sebastian Aho paces the team with 36 goals and 62 points after recording 11 goals and seven assists in 13 February games. Teuvo Teravainen has three of his 15 goals and four of 60 points in the last four contests while his plus-21 rating is best among the team's forwards.

ABOUT THE FLYERS (39-20-7): Travis Konecny scored his team-high 24th on Wednesday and has 13 of his team-leading 61 points (five goals) during the winning streak. Kevin Hayes recorded his 23rd goal and added an assist against Washington, giving him four scores and two helpers in his last four games. Carter Hart, who has a 2.00 goals-against average and .929 save percentage during his five-game winning streak, is expected in goal Thursday after Brian Elliott stopped 25 shots Wednesday.

OVERTIME

1. Philadelphia F James van Riemsdyk on Wednesday broke his hand while blocking a shot.

2. The Flyers are 23-5-4 at home - tied with Pittsburgh for most wins while the nine losses are second fewest in the league.

3. Philadelphia won the first two meetings this season before Carolina prevailed 5-4 in overtime Jan. 7 with Claude Giroux recording three goals in four assists in the three games, giving him 44 points in 43 career contests versus the Hurricanes.

PREDICTION: Flyers 3, Hurricanes 2