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Couturier hopes to help Voracek in scoring race

Flyers center Sean Couturier knows he can help teammate Jake Voracek by shutting down Sidney Crosby when he's matched against the Penguins superstar Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.

Flyers center Sean Couturier knows he can help teammate Jake Voracek by shutting down Sidney Crosby when he's matched against the Penguins superstar Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.

Entering Tuesday, Voracek was third in the NHL scoring race with 76 points, trailing Crosby (79) and the Islanders' John Tavares (77).

"I just try to do my job and do whatever I can do to help the team win," said Couturier, a defensive specialist who is frequently matched against Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. "I'd feel bad if Crosby gets a few points and I'm on the ice."

Crosby is pointless in two games against the Flyers this season, but he has 75 points in 50 career games against them.

Voracek has three points in two games against the Penguins this season and has 23 points in 22 career games against them.

The Penguins are battling the Islanders for the second spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers are out of the playoff race but are trying to play the role of spoiler.

The teams will also meet Sunday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Penguins will dress just five defensemen for the second straight game because of injuries to Kris Letang (concussion) and Christian Ehrhoff (upper body).

Pittsburgh cannot make an emergency call-up because of a full roster. In addition, it cannot use a long-term-injured-reserve designation on Ehrhoff or Letang - which would force them to miss 10 games or 24 days - because there are fewer than 10 games left.

Breakaways. Defenseman Mark Streit returned from Switzerland, where he said he went to "say bye" to his ailing 99-year-old grandmother, who has been an "unbelievable inspiration in my life." . . . On the road, Steve Mason is 1-12-6 with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. The Flyers have scored two or fewer goals in 17 of his 19 road games.

@BroadStBull