Five things to know about the Flyers today

1. Captain Claude Giroux, who has never complained about injuries, admitted this morning when asked, that it took some time to recover from surgery to repair his right hip and an abdominal tear on May 17. Giroux has scored points in six consecutive games. In those six games he has two goals, four assists and a plus-1 rating. "When you try to make plays you used to make and can't really make them it is frustrating and confusing," he said after the optional morning skate, which he didn't take part of. "When you start getting the confidence back you know you can make those plays you just go out there and make it happen."

2. Flyers coach Dave Hakstol confirmed what everything expected when he said after the morning skate that Steve Mason would start in goal tonight against visiting Carolina. This will be his ninth start in the last 10 games.During the last eight games, Mason has allowed 16 goals and recorded a .931 save percentage. The Flyers are 4-3-1 in those games. "I feel great and feel my game is in a good position and I am not worried about the workload at all," Mason said this morning.

3. Defenseman Brandon Manning, who is believed to have a shoulder injury, will miss his fourth consecutive game tonight.

4. The Flyers enter action seven points behind Toronto for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot with 12 games remaining. Tonight's opponent Carolina is tied with the Flyers with 72 points, but the Hurricanes have a game in hand. This is a hot Carolina team that is 4-0-2 in its last six games following Saturday's 4-2 home win over the Nashville Predators.

5. Two players to watch from Carolina are Sebastian Aho and Elias Lindholm. Aho has three goals and three assists in three games against the Flyers this season. Lindholm has scored points in each of his last six games, including an empty net goal Saturday against Nashville. Winger Jeff Skinner is the Hurricanes leading scorer (25 goals, 23 assists).