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Flyers Must Get Off To Better Start vs Carolina Hurricanes

By Benjamin Gabrych

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 21: Nino Niederreiter #21 of the Carolina Hurricanes takes a shot on goal as Brian Elliott #37 of the Philadelphia Flyers goes down in the crease and make a pad save during an NHL game on November 21, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 21: Nino Niederreiter #21 of the Carolina Hurricanes takes a shot on goal as Brian Elliott #37 of the Philadelphia Flyers goes down in the crease and make a pad save during an NHL game on November 21, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia Flyers need to perform better in the first period if they hope to get a win over the Carolina Hurricanes on the road.

Following yet another demeaning loss on this six-game road trip to the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, the Philadelphia Flyers will hope to finish it out on a positive note as they face the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena. Philadelphia already has one road victory over Carolina this season, defeating their Metropolitan Division adversary by a score of 5-3 back in late November. Maybe the Orange and Black have their number this year and will be able to walk out of Raleigh with their second and final win during this roadie.

If the Flyers hope to do just that and take the season series from the Hurricanes, they have to get off to a much better start than they have in recent contests. Philly’s allowed a combined total of 11 first-period goals in their last three games, which makes out for an average of just under four per game. Sources say that allowing a game’s worth of tallies in the initial 20 minutes isn’t the best recipe for success. Shocking, I know. Carolina is also pretty solid in the first frame while playing at home, posting a 250-181 shots-on-goal advantage over the opposition during the period coming into tonight. For those reasons, the Fly Guys can’t let the wheels fall off of the bus early and need to improve their first-period performance, even if it means fighting through some adversity.

In lineup related news, Alain Vigneault announced on Monday afternoon that defenseman Justin Braun will miss this game due to a groin injury and is likely to be sidelined until after the All-Star break. Robert Hagg will enter the lineup for Braun for the time being. While this news is unfortunate, the Flyers have been no stranger to injuries this season and know they can’t dwell on the loss on the blue-line. Brian Elliott will also get the start in this first half of back-to-backs.

Hot. Two Flyers Prospects Earn Medals at 2020 World Juniors. light

Puck drop is set for 7 pm EST. You can watch the game on NBC Sports Philadelphia and Fox Sports Carolinas.

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