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Flyers try to halt losing streak with rare victory over Oilers

Mar 8, 2011 - 4:07 PM (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Flyers have not resembled the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference lately. They're hoping tonight's visit from the West's worst team can help them get back on track.

The Flyers will try to avoid a fifth consecutive loss when they host the Edmonton Oilers this evening at the Wells Fargo Center.

Philadelphia is leading the East with 86 points, but Boston is lurking just two points behind. The Bruins are playing in Montreal tonight and will get a chance to forge a tie atop the East standings if Philly is dealt its fifth consecutive regulation loss tonight.

The Flyers are also just two points ahead of Pittsburgh for the Atlantic Division lead. The Penguins are playing at home tonight against Buffalo.

The Oilers are last in the West with 54 points and are just one point ahead of Ottawa in the NHL's overall standings. Still, Edmonton has won its last three games and has gotten the better of the Flyers over the last few years.

Edmonton has dominated the recent series with Philadelphia, posting six wins and a tie in the last seven encounters between the clubs. Edmonton, which recorded a 1-0 home win over the Flyers last season, has also won four straight in Philadelphia.

The Oilers' last loss to the Flyers was on March 19, 2001 and Edmonton hasn't dropped a game in the City of Brotherly Love since earlier that season on Nov. 9, 2000.

The Flyers' fourth straight loss came in humiliating fashion, as the rival New York Rangers slammed Philadelphia by a 7-0 score at Madison Square Garden. Ryan Callahan registered his first career hat trick, scoring four times in the blowout victory.

"We were not on our game today pretty much from start to finish," Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette said. "The Rangers had better jump, better pop and they won the game."

Brian Boucher started and allowed four goals on 18 shots before being replaced by Sergei Bobrovsky, who yielded three goals on 18 shots. It's unclear who will get the start in net tonight for the Flyers.

Philadelphia has lost four straight for the first time since an 0-4-1 stretch from March 20-27 of last season. The Flyers' last stretch with four straight regulation losses also came in 2009-10, as Philly posted an 0-5-0 mark from Nov. 27-Dec. 7.

The Flyers are hoping to get forward Jeff Carter back tonight after he missed two of the last three games with flu-like symptoms. Carter, who is tied for the team lead with 28 goals, played in Saturday's loss to Buffalo, but was unable to skate Sunday against the Rangers.

Philadelphia has lost two straight and four of its last five home games, dropping the Flyers to 20-10-3 as the host this season.

Edmonton, meanwhile, has won two straight and three of its last four on the road and is making the second stop on a five-game swing this evening. The Oilers are just 11-16-4 as the visiting club this season.

The Oilers began this road trip with Saturday's lopsided win over the Colorado Avalanche. Sam Gagner posted a goal and two assists to get his first three- point game of the season in the 5-1 victory at the Pepsi Center.

Shawn Horcoff, Alexandre Giroux, Andrew Cogliano and Ryan Jones all scored for the Oilers. Devan Dubnyk made 33 saves between the pipes for the win.

The Oilers were playing their first games since Taylor Hall -- the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft -- was lost for the season with a high left ankle sprain.

In other injury news, Edmonton defenseman Theo Peckham is expected to miss his fourth straight game with a concussion.