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Flyers-Kings Preview

Nov 17, 2009 - 6:04 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Philadelphia (11-5-1) at Los Angeles (13-7-2), 10:30 p.m. EDT

After another solid performance at home, the Philadelphia Flyers are hoping to prove they can continue their consistent play during a five-game road trip.

The Los Angeles Kings have already done that, and they'll look for a third straight victory as they return home to face the Flyers on Wednesday night.

Philadelphia's strong start has happened mostly at the Wachovia Center, where the team has played 12 of 15 games and won five of six, including Monday's 3-2 victory over New Jersey, which had been 9-0-0 on the road.

But things could get tougher for the Flyers (11-5-1) as they head west to begin a trip that includes stops at San Jose and Colorado.

They probably wouldn't mind replicating the Kings' recent results. Los Angeles (13-7-2) finished its trip at 3-2-0 after a 4-3 shootout win at Florida on Monday night, bouncing back from Friday's ugly 7-0 loss at Atlanta with back-to-back wins over the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Panthers.

"Obviously you want to go 5-0," Kings defenseman Jack Johnson told his team's official Web site, "but you're playing in the NHL and you're playing a lot of games. I think if we can win more than we lose on the road, and win our home games, we'll be in a great spot."

The Kings have played just five home games in a stretch of nearly six weeks dating back to early October, but there's no reason their winning formula shouldn't carry over to the Staples Center. Los Angeles has been buoyed by a resurgent offense anchored by NHL points leader Anze Kopitar and a relatively steady start from goaltender Jon Quick.

After the Kings ranked 27th with 2.46 goals per game and extended their playoff drought to six seasons in 2008-09, they're averaging more than three goals thanks in part to Kopitar's torrid start. The 22-year-old Slovenian has 32 points in 22 games after totaling 66 in all 82 games last season.

The offense may have to get by without newcomer Ryan Smyth, the team's second-leading scorer. Smyth left the win over Florida due to an upper-body injury.

"We're going to ... get back to L.A. and have a doctor look at it, and we'll see where it's at," Kings coach Terry Murray said.

Either way, Quick will likely be in net to try to slow down Philadelphia's high-powered offense. In his lone career appearance against the Flyers, Quick stopped 31 shots - including a Scott Hartnell penalty shot - in a 2-1 shootout win on Jan. 3.

Philadelphia beat the Kings 2-0 at home on Feb. 25.

The Flyers have used more solid defense to win six of seven overall, allowing a total of 12 goals in that stretch. Newcomer Ray Emery continues to rack up victories in net, stopping 33 shots against New Jersey to lower his goals-against average to 2.22 and outduel Martin Brodeur.

But Philadelphia has also been boosted by the league's top power play during its early run. The unit was 1 for 2 against the Devils and is 20 for 74 (27.0 percent) on the season, with Mike Richards (nine power-play points) and Hartnell (six power-play goals) leading the way.

"The two points was the main thing (Monday) as we head out on the road here," coach John Stevens told the Flyers' official Web site.

Wednesday's game will mark Kings defenseman Randy Jones' first game against his former team after Los Angeles claimed him off waivers from the Flyers last month. Jones has two goals and two assists in his first four games with his new club.