Raleigh, NC (My Sportsbook) - The
Philadelphia Flyers seek their sixth consecutive victory tonight when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC Center.
At 8-1-2 (18 points) the Flyers have already tied for the second-best 11-game start in franchise history. A win this evening would match that feat for the first 12 games, as they'd equal the 1975-76 team that began 9-1-2. Philly would, however, be a point shy of the club-best mark -- 10-1-1 (21 points) in 79-80.
On Saturday the Flyers capped off a three-game homestand with a 2-1 victory over the Washington Capitals. Ken Hitchcock's crew ripped 43 shots on rookie goaltender Sebastien Chapentier, but was only able to muster goals by Dennis Seidenberg and Keith Primeau in the second period.
Primeau, who was acquired from Carolina in 2000 after a holdout with the Hurricanes, continued his stellar spurt as of late. The captain has contributed six goals in the last five contests.
The Flyers, whose lone loss of the season came on October 22 in Buffalo, make a short road stop tonight. They'll return home for an Atlantic Division affair with New Jersey on Thursday.
Carolina, meanwhile, is unbeaten in its last four games (2-0-2), including Friday's 2-2 tie with Montreal. Sami Kapanen and David Tanabe scored for the Canes, but the Habs' Randy McKay tallied his second marker of the game 4:32 into the third period for the equalizer.
Carolina was frustrated by Hart/Vezina winner Jose Theodore, who turned aside 36 shots on the night. He stopped eight Hurricane shots in overtime alone.
Theodore's counterpart, Kevin Weekes, made 23 saves at his end, as he made his ninth start of the season. Weekes is 5-2-2 with a 1.92 goals-against average and .937 save-percentage.
The Hurricanes will play the third installment of a nine-game homestand tonight. The set continues Thursday against Buffalo, and will also include visits from Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Philadelphia again, Tampa Bay and Ottawa.
Philly went 3-1 against Carolina last season, and has won eight of the last 11 meetings overall. The Flyers have, however, dropped three of their last five in Raleigh.
