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Flyers take red-hot play on road to battle Panthers

Nov 25, 2013 - 4:17 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Philadelphia Flyers will try to stay hot by posting a seventh win in eight games when they visit the Florida Panthers in Monday's clash at BankAtlantic Center.

The Flyers have played their best hockey of the season over the past few weeks, earning a point in seven straight games thanks to a 6-0-1 mark during that stretch. The club has posted a pair of three-game winning streaks during the tear and notched a third straight victory with Saturday's 5-2 triumph over the visiting New York Islanders.

After Saturday's win against the Islanders, the Flyers have outscored the opposition by a 14-5 margin during their current three-game run. Philadelphia has scored 27 times over the last seven games after registering only 22 goals through its first 15 contests.

Matt Read and his linemates have been a big reason for the recent scoring surge. Read posted his second consecutive two-goal effort to help the Flyers down the Islanders on Saturday.

"I'd say a little bit of luck, being in the right spot at the right time," Read said of his recent goal success. "My line mates are doing all the work and I've just been benefiting from them. I give all the credit to those two. We'll just keep working together, and hopefully continue to have success."

Read's line, which features centerman Sean Couturier and physical winger Steve Downie, has combined for 13 points over the last three games. Downie has posted six assists in seven games since coming over in a trade with Colorado last month and Philly is 5-1-1 with him in the lineup this season.

Wayne Simmonds and Claude Giroux added a goal and assist each for the Flyers on Saturday. Brayden Schenn also posted a late tally to back 36 saves from Steve Mason.

Philadelphia hopes to carry its momentum on the road after going 3-0 on its recent homestand. The Flyers, who are 4-3-2 as the visitor this season, are playing two straight and eight of their next nine away from the City of Brotherly Love.

The Flyers have a good chance of beginning this road-heavy portion of their schedule on a positive note, considering Philly has won five straight over the Panthers in South Florida. The Flyers have claimed seven of 10 from the Panthers overall.

Florida enters Monday's home test having lost two straight at the end of a five-game road trip. The Panthers went 2-2-1 during the swing and completed the trek with Friday's shootout loss in Calgary.

Sean Monahan scored the clincher during the sixth round of the shootout to lift the Flames to a 4-3 decision over Florida. The Panthers didn't make it easy on Calgary, rallying from a 3-1 deficit on third-period goals from Jimmy Hayes and Marcel Goc before scoring twice while facing elimination during the shootout to extend the matchup to a sixth round.

Tim Thomas finished with 21 saves for Florida, which also received a regulation goal from Tom Gilbert.

"It was a heck of an effort for these guys to come back in the situation," said Panthers interim coach Peter Horachek. "I don't think the second period was that great, but to come back in the third -- them scoring and still coming back -- I think it was a really strong effort."

The Panthers hope to build off Saturday's solid effort when they begin a five- game road trip tonight. Florida is only 3-4-3 as the home club this season, but the Cats did halt a five-game slide as the host when it beat Anaheim on Nov. 12.