Anaheim comes in from the other direction. As of this writing the Ducks have lost 4 straight and been outscored 16-8 in that stretch: home losses to Calgary and Boston, then road losses to the Rangers and Islanders. They've scored exactly 2 goals in all 4, and they're 0-5-0 this season when they score 2. Joel Quenneville didn't excuse his stars after the Rangers loss: 'I thought our top guys weren't very good tonight. You could name them all and you probably wouldn't be happy.'
Before Philadelphia, the Ducks play in New Jersey against a Devils team that has been rolling. That game decides what Anaheim looks like on Saturday. A win in Newark and they show up with the losing streak over. Another 2-goal night and the same scoring problem follows them to Philly, at the tail end of a long road swing with an early puck drop. Either way, the Flyers will have spent the time at home waiting.
Both injury lists are long, but they hit different parts of the lineup. Anaheim has lost depth up the middle and on the right side. Troy Terry is on long-term IR with a hip injury, Ryan Poehling is out 6-8 weeks with an MCL sprain, Ian Moore is still 'a ways from skating' per Quenneville, and Judd Caulfield is day-to-day. Philadelphia is missing most of its proven right wingers plus 2 regular defensemen. Nikita Grebenkin's back surgery keeps him out at least 4 months, though Ristolainen was reported to be closing in on a return. The Flyers' recent wins have hidden how much of their lineup is missing.
So it's a Flyers team that keeps scores low and wins by a goal or 2, against a Ducks team that can't get to 3 goals. If the Ducks' top players take over in Newark, they come to Philly with confidence. If not, Philadelphia's call-ups get a chance to make it 4 straight in front of a home crowd that was chanting for the coach's job 2 weeks ago.