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Ducks-Flyers Preview

What coach Bruce Boudreau called his team's worst loss in at least two months opened a lengthy trip that threatens to ground the Anaheim Ducks.

A 24-hour turnaround perhaps never sounded so good.

The Ducks will try to regroup from an ugly streak-snapping defeat by picking up their sixth consecutive win over the host Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.

Anaheim (25-19-7) has been one of the NHL's hottest teams since Nov. 1, and its best run came with six straight wins that stretched over the All-Star break.

After outscoring their opponents 25-12 during the streak, the Ducks fell on the wrong end of Monday's 6-2 blowout at Pittsburgh to open a season-high seven-game trip. Goaltender John Gibson had not allowed more than three goals this season but surrendered all six before getting pulled early in the third period.

"You can sit there and go up and down the lineup, but you can't blame just one or two guys," Boudreau told the team's official website. "It was 20 guys. It was by far our worst game in the past 25-30 games. I'm glad we're playing tomorrow. We'll see what we're made of, even though I know they'll be ready for us."

The Ducks held the second-best goals-against average in the league from Nov. 27-Feb. 5 at 2.00 - behind only Florida's 1.90. The Penguins, though, became the first team to score six against Anaheim in 81 games, including last season's playoffs.

After Gibson got lit up in his return to his native Pittsburgh, it was announced Frederik Andersen would start Tuesday for Anaheim.

Andersen has a .930 save percentage and 1.89 goals average in his last 10 appearances and made four saves in relief of Gibson on Monday. He has won all three of his career starts against the Flyers despite a .907 save percentage and 3.16 GAA.

While opening the season 1-7-2, Anaheim earned just one point by dropping its first six away from home. The Ducks are 9-6-2 on the road since then and had earned points in seven straight prior to Monday.

Outside of Tuesday's game and a Feb. 13 matchup at Chicago, four of Anaheim's six remaining games on this trip are against sub-.500 teams.

Philadelphia (23-19-9) has struggled at home of late, picking up four points while dropping four of its last five at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers open a three-game homestand before embarking on a five-game trip.

Since picking up points in six straight in mid January, Philadelphia has been up and down with three straight losses, three consecutive wins and then back-to-back defeats.

After losing 3-2 in a shootout to the New York Rangers on Saturday, they fell by the same score in regulation at Washington on Sunday.

"This is the make-or-break point of our season," said Shayne Gostisbehere, who extended his point streak to eight games with an assist against the Capitals. "We've just got to find ways to get points and keep leads and stick with it."

Anaheim's 4-2 home win over Philadelphia on Dec. 27 was the Ducks' fifth straight in this series and 10th straight with at least one point - claiming 18 of a possible 20 in that span. That stretch includes four wins in Philadelphia.

Corey Perry scored two goals in this season's first matchup against Flyers starter Steve Mason. Mason made 33 saves in the loss, dropping to 5-8-2 with an .890 save percentage and 3.38 GAA in 16 career appearances against Anaheim.

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