Five things to know about the Flyers today

Five things to know about the Flyers (11-10-3) as they play in Ottawa (14-8-1) on Thursday night:

1. Led by right winger Wayne Simmonds - will this be the year he finally gets an all-star spot? - the Flyers are fourth in the NHL, averaging 3.08 goals per game.  Simmonds has 11 goals and is on a 38-goal pace.

2. The Flyers rarely had the puck, and were badly outshot (47-21) on Tuesday, but they escaped with a 3-2 shootout win over Boston because goalie Steve Mason was sensational.  They need a much better team effort Thursday if they are going to extend their winning streak to three, which would equal a season high.

3. Ottawa, which is coming off a 5-4 loss to visiting Buffalo on Tuesday, had a surprisingly successful 9-5-1 November under defensive-minded new coach Guy Boucher, whose team has reduced its goals-against average from 3.0 goals per game to 2.4.

4. Senators goalie Craig Anderson (2.20 GAA, .930 save percentage) will miss Thursday's game to be with his wife, Nicholle, who is battling cancer. Mike Condon, who has a 1.95 GAA and .939 save percentage in three appearances, will get the start.

5. Entering Wednesday, the Flyers' power-play was second in the NHL, clicking at 24.7 percent of the time. Ottawa's PP was ranked 26th (13.6 percent). Ottawa's penalty kill was 13th (82.8 percent), while the Flyers' was 21st (80.8 percent).