The Vancouver Canucks (15-12-0) will look to make it three straight road wins when they make a rare visit to the "City of Brotherly Love" to take on the Philadelphia Flyers (13-10-1).
Thursday's game marks the only meeting between the two teams this season and the first time Vancouver has paid a visit to Philadelphia since December 15, 2005.
Last year, the Flyers won the lone meeting edging the Canucks 3-2 in Vancouver. Scott Hartnell, Jeff Carter and Jon Kalinski scored for the Flyers. Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler replied for Vancouver.
The Canucks who are 5-8-0 on the road this season opened up their current four-game road trip with a 5-2 win Wednesday in New Jersey. Roberto Luongo outshined Martin Brodeur making 27 saves in a battle of potential Team Canada Olympic goalies.
Canucks forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin each had a goal and an assist in the win, while defenceman Alex Edler chipped in with a goal and two assists. Edler has a point in four straight games.
Following the win, Vancouver's fifth in six games, the Canucks confirmed that Luongo will be back in goal when they face-off against the struggling Flyers.
The Flyers enter tonight's game on a two-game losing streak and with a laundry list of injuries to its forward core.
The Flyers will not have the services of Simon Gagne (hernia), Blair Betts (shoulder) and Darroll Powe (shoulder). On a positive note, Philadelphia is expected to have Danny Briere back in the lineup. Briere missed Saturday's loss in Atlanta due to the flu.
Brian Boucher's hot play as of late has earned him the start in goal over Ray Emery. This will be Boucher's third start in the last four games. Boucher has a record of two wins and three losses this season, with a save-percentage of .901 and a goals-against-average of 2.01
The Canucks are expected to dress the same lineup that played in New Jersey.
Following Thursday's game the Canucks will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina for a Saturday matinee game before finishing up their road trip in Nashville on Tuesday.
