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Ducks-Flyers Preview

Oct 9, 2009 - 6:39 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Anaheim (1-1-1) at Philadelphia (3-1-0), 7:00 p.m. EDT

In his first season with the Anaheim Ducks, defenseman Chris Pronger helped them win the Stanley Cup.

He's trying to repeat that accomplishment with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Facing his former teammates for the first time since being traded to Philadelphia in the offseason, Pronger looks to help the Flyers rebound from a loss to the defending Stanley Cup champs as they host Anaheim on Saturday night.

Pronger, who turns 35 on Saturday, won his only Stanley Cup in 2007 with the Ducks after losing in the finals with Edmonton in 2006.

After recording 36 goals and 118 assists for Anaheim from 2006-09, Pronger was traded to Philadelphia on June 26 for forward Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Luca Sbisa and draft picks.

"I'm very excited," Pronger said during his introductory news conference. "The fans are passionate about hockey. The style of play the Flyers play certainly fits mine. They've got some great young talent. I hope to help them win a Stanley Cup."

The Flyers, though, have not done so since 1975.

Philadelphia (3-1-0) opened this season with three straight wins for the first time since 1998-99 before falling to Pittsburgh 5-4 on Thursday.

"They're the Stanley Cup champions and you want to try to put your best foot forward and beat them," coach John Stevens said. "We've got work to do."

Jeff Carter matched a career high with four points Thursday with two goals and two assists. His second-period power-play goal was set up by Mike Richards and Pronger, who notched his fourth assist.

Pronger also received a 10-minute misconduct with 1.2 seconds left after grabbing forward Chris Kunitz in front of the Penguins' goal and setting off a brief scuffle behind the net.

"I wanted a guy who would make life miserable for the other team," general manager Paul Holmgren said in June. "Chris is one of those guys."

With Pronger in Philadelphia and Francois Beauchemin signing with Toronto in the offseason, the Ducks (1-1-1) have had to adjust without two of their top defensemen from 2008-09.

Anaheim allowed eight goals in losses to San Jose and Minnesota to open the season but rebounded with a 6-1 win at Boston on Thursday.

"We were embarrassed at home (in a 4-1 loss to the Sharks) on opening night, and then let the 3-0 lead slip away our next game (a 4-3 OT loss to the Wild)," coach Randy Carlyle said. "So we had a lot to prove."

Teemu Selanne and Corey Perry each scored twice against the Bruins, while captain Scott Niedermayer, James Wisniewski and Lupul all had two assists.

Lupul had 25 goals and 25 assists for Philadelphia last season.

Flyers center Danny Briere scored twice against Pittsburgh for his first multigoal game since he had two in a 6-4 win at Buffalo on March 20.

Briere missed Philadelphia's 5-4 shootout win at Anaheim on Jan. 2 - the teams' only meeting last season - due to a groin injury that sidelined him for 53 games in 2008-09.

The Flyers are 5-0-1 against the Ducks since March 21, 2002.