The Philadelphia Flyers kick off a three-game, make-it-or-break-it California road trip on Wednesday night when they face the Anaheim Ducks.
Entering Tuesday, Philadelphia was seven points behind both the third-place New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division and the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 16 games remaining.
That makes the trip to sunny California, where Philadelphia also plays the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday and the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, a crucial one when it comes to maintaining the team’s playoff hopes.
The Flyers, 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, come in off a disappointing 2-1 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Rookie forward Alex Bump scored the lone goal for Philadelphia, which went 0-for-3 in the shootout.
It’s a homecoming game for Flyers center Trevor Zegras, the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft by the Ducks, and defenseman Jamie Drysdale, picked sixth overall in 2020 by Anaheim.
Zegras, who is second on the team with 22 goals and 54 points, was traded to Philadelphia last June for forward Ryan Poehling and two draft picks. Drysdale, who has seven goals and 27 points, was dealt to the Flyers along with a second-round pick in January 2024 for forward Cutter Gauthier.
Drysdale said the Flyers remain focused on their playoff pursuit despite the tough loss Saturday and the 90-plus degree temperatures they’re encountering in southern California.
“I think every guy in the room is one-track minded still on getting in,” Drysdale said. “There are no ifs, ands or buts. … We’re not out until we’re out, so I think the team can build off the (overtime loss), and that’s kind of our attitude. I know for a fact that’s how everyone in the room feels.”
Anaheim returned home from a 2-2-0 Canadian road trip with a one-point lead in the Pacific Division over the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Ducks capped the trip with a 4-3 victory at the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. Gauthier, who scored the winner with 2:30 remaining, leads Anaheim in goals (34) and points (59).
Forward Troy Terry, back after missing nine games with an upper-body injury, scored once, contributed two assists and earned a plus-3 rating. Leo Carlsson scored two goals and added an assist, while Lukas Dostal made 27 saves for the Ducks.
Defenseman John Carlson, acquired in a trade with the Washington Capitals on March 6, made his Anaheim debut in the win and was a plus-1 in 22:59 of ice time.
“He was a horse. Wow, what a game,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “That was impressive. I mean, just coming into our team, systematically he looked like he played here his whole career. And poised, patient, play recognition. There’s a lot of kids back there that he’s helping every shift. I can’t speak highly enough of what we just saw in one game.”
This is the second of two meetings between the teams this season. Spurred by two goals from Zegras, the Flyers won 5-2 in Philadelphia on Jan. 6.
