Potential Scratches Incoming for the Penguins Rematch Against the Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are on a roll. They're feeling good about themselves, and they have an opportunity to take their longest winning streak of the season to even higher levels.

The Pittsburgh Penguins? They're reeling. Four consecutive losses, a slide in the Eastern Conference standings, and not many solutions on the horizon.

As the two clubs meet in a home-and-home, they're headed in different directions. Philadelphia is only five points out of a wild-card position, thanks to a three-game win streak that has gotten them back into the race.

Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has been outscored 18-6 during its last four games and is in desperate need of a reversal of fortunes.

Sidney Crosby has tortured the Flyers for years, and the Penguins need him at his best. His seven-game point streak recently ended but against Philadelphia? He owns them.

In his last two home games against them, he's tallied a goal and three assists in each. Evgeni Malkin has been just as dangerous, riding a 10-game home point streak against the Flyers.

But none of that will matter if Pittsburgh can't get its defense in order. Goaltending is still a huge issue for the Penguins, as they've given up 18 goals during their past four defeats.

Flyers' backup Ivan Fedotov has also been struggling, losing seven consecutive starts since November 25.

A potential lineup change is on the horizon for Pittsburgh. P.O Joseph and Vladislav Kolyachonok were the last defensemen remaining on the ice at practice today, usually an indication they'll be scratched.

Philadelphia is starving. Pittsburgh is desperate. If the Penguins are going to stem the bleeding, they will need more than Crosby and Malkin to get it done.