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Well-rested Flyers try to continue road dominance of Canucks

Dec 28, 2010 - 4:23 PM (Sports Network) - The Flyers have had to wait eight days to try and rebound from one of their poorest showings of the season. They couldn't have picked a better spot to start their longest road trip of the season.

Philadelphia hasn't lost in Vancouver in nearly 22 years and starts up a five- game road trip versus the Canucks tonight at Rogers Arena.

The Flyers have been out of action since last Monday when they dropped a 5-0 decision to the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky began the game in net and allowed four goals on 22 shots faced and Brian Boucher made 11 saves after coming on in relief in the second period.

Though the club suffered just its first regulation loss since Dec. 1 (7-1-1), head coach Peter Laviolette wasn't happy with his club's performance after having a five-game winning streak end.

"It's unacceptable. I thought Florida played a good game," said Laviolette. "They were first in all areas tonight. They were first on the puck on faceoffs, first on the forecheck, first to loose pucks, first to open ice. They played a good game, they competed at a high level and our level was not where it needed to be."

The Flyers, who trail the Penguins by a point for first place in the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division, have won four straight and are 6-0-1 in their last seven on the road. They have been even better in Vancouver, notching 10 wins and four ties since their last loss there on Jan. 17, 1989.

The Canucks did post a 3-0 victory in Philadelphia in the lone meeting last year, getting 38 saves from Roberto Luongo, but the Flyers have still won five of the last seven clashes overall.

Boucher started last year's game and is 2-7-0 with a tie lifetime when facing the Canucks, while the rookie Bobrovsky has never faced them.

Vancouver does seem to be in good shape as it tries to snap its lengthy winless drought at home versus Philadelphia. The Canucks picked up a 3-2 win at Rogers Arena over the Oilers on Sunday and are 4-0-1 in their last five as the host and 12-3-2 at home overall this season.

Kevin Bieksa gave the Canucks a thrilling victory over the weekend, netting the game-winning goal with 24 seconds left in regulation. Jeff Tambellini added his career-high eighth goal of the season and Cory Schneider made 19 saves in his second straight start.

"We stayed patient, played the right way in the second half of the game and got the result," Bieksa said after his club improved to 7-0-2 in its last nine and 11-1-2 in the past 14.

Vancouver hasn't lost in regulation since Dec. 5.

Ryan Kesler added an assist to give him five goals and six helpers over a seven-game point streak as the Canucks lead the Avalanche by four points for first place in the Northwest Division.

Luongo did not get the start on Sunday after getting to Vancouver late following the Christmas break. He was in Florida with his wife as the couple is expecting their second child, but is slated to start tonight and is 3-6-2 with a tie and 3.26 GAA in his career versus the Flyers.