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Flyers look to rebound against Ducks

The Flyers, coming off one-goal weekend losses to the Rangers and Washington, will try to rebound Tuesday against the rejuvenated Anaheim Ducks at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Flyers, coming off one-goal weekend losses to the Rangers and Washington, will try to rebound Tuesday against the rejuvenated Anaheim Ducks at the Wells Fargo Center.

After a miserable 1-7-2 October, Anaheim has been one of the NHL's best teams. The Ducks were on a 24-11-5 run heading into Monday's game in Pittsburgh, the start of a grueling seven-game, 13-day trip that will encompass more than 7,300 miles.

The Flyers, after playing three games in four days, had an off day Monday and will try to get their offense back on track against the Ducks.

The Flyers had scored a total of 14 goals in a three-game winning streak before the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist and Washington's Braden Holtby played strong games against them over the weekend.

Lundqvist made 26 saves and stopped both shootout attempts in the Rangers' 3-2 win Saturday. The next day, Holtby turned aside 33 shots as the Capitals prevailed, 3-2.

The Flyers couldn't hold leads in both games, so they managed just one point during the weekend.

"We have games in hand, and we have to make the most out of them," defenseman Michael Del Zotto said after Sunday's loss to the powerful Capitals in Washington. "We let two leads slip. That can't happen if you want to end the season in a playoff spot."

The Flyers entered Monday four points out of a playoff berth.

After erupting for the most goals they had scored all season and blasting host Nashville, 6-3, on Thursday, the Flyers have managed a total of four goals - and only one by a forward - in their last two games.

They will be trying to avenge a 4-2 loss in Anaheim. In that Dec. 27 game, Corey Perry scored a pair of goals as the Ducks erased a 2-1 deficit, and John Gibson made 24 saves and was named the third star.

On Tuesday, the Flyers are expected to oppose Frederick Andersen, who has a 2.35 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. Gibson, a standout rookie, faced the Penguins on Monday.

Steve Mason is expected to make his fifth straight start for the Flyers. Michal Neuvirth isn't quite ready to return from a lower-body injury.

Mason welcomes the workload.

"Right now, the days are just rolling into the next," said Mason, who, despite battling through an injury of his own, has played solidly while Neuvirth has been sidelined. "It's a busy time of year, and you're not really focusing on how much you're playing. You're just rolling with it."

Breakaways

Since being recalled from the Phantoms on Nov. 14, Shayne Gostisbehere has nine goals and is four shy of the Flyers' record by a rookie defenseman - 13 by Behn Wilson in 1978-79. . . . The Flyers are 8-8-3 against the Western Conference and 15-11-6 against the East.

scarchidi@phillynews.com

@BroadStBull www.philly.com/flyersblog