Music: {allcanada} FLYERS (17-16-4) at OILERS (13-24-3)

Saturday, December 28, 2013

{allcanada} FLYERS (17-16-4) at OILERS (13-24-3)

Stanley Cup Classics - NHL Stanley Cup

Saturday, December 28, 2013

10:00 PM ET

FLYERS (17-16-4) at OILERS (13-24-3)

TV: CBC, TCN-PH

Last 10: Philadelphia 5-3-2; Edmonton 3-6-1

Season series: This is the second of two games between the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers. The Flyers won 4-2 at Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 9; however, they are 0-3 with a tie at Rexall Place since winning there March 19, 2001.

Big story: The Flyers begin a six-game road trip after a 4-1-1 streak in the six games before the Christmas break moved them into third place in the Metropolitan Division after a bad start. The Oilers come home after a 2-0 victory against the Calgary Flames on Friday.

Team Scope:

Flyers: Philadelphia begins its trip having won six of 19 games away from home. The Flyers are 0-3-2 in their past five games on the road.

Coach Craig Berube said his team has to simplify its game to have success.

"For me, you've gotta play a simple game, can't force things on the road," Berube told the Flyers website.

"You have to be smart with the puck. It takes a lot of discipline on the road."

That would mean taking fewer penalties, which might not be easy for the NHL's most penalized team (17.2 minutes per game).

"We take too many penalties that aren't needed," Berube said.

Oilers: Edmonton is back at Rexall Place after a satisfying victory against their provincial rivals. Ryan Smyth had both goals, and Devan Dubnyk stopped 27 shots to give the Oilers consecutive victories for the third time this season.

Oilers coach Dallas Eakins was more than happy to take the two points.

"I thought we played a sound game," Eakins said. "I don't think it was a real exciting game. It was two teams trying to not give up anything."

Who's hot: Flyers captain Claude Giroux has five goals and eight assists during a seven-game point streak. … Oilers forward Taylor Hall has five points in the past four games.

Injury report: Flyers forward Adam Hall (flu) didn't practice Friday. Defenseman Eric Gustafsson (knee) is sidelined, but forward Steve Downie (upper body) is ready to return. … Oilers defenseman Corey Potter (groin) will be out.

Team Stats