The Philadelphia Flyers (16-9-5) head to Raleigh for a quick turnaround in their home-and-home series against the Carolina Hurricanes (20-9-2), following a heartbreaking 4-3 shootout loss to the Canes on Saturday night. Carolina, the Eastern Conference’s top team, looks to sweep the set and extend their dominance in the rivalry, while Philly aims to salvage a point on the road amid defensive injuries that exposed gaps in the blue line. With Frederik Andersen expected to start for the Flyers after Ivan Fedotov’s 29 saves in defeat, and Pyotr Kochetkov sidelined for Carolina, this rematch could feature a tighter-checking affair emphasizing forecheck and power-play execution. Faceoff is set for 5:00 p.m. ET from Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The 18,680-seat arena, opened in 1999 and renovated in 2018, has been a fortress for the Hurricanes this season (10-4-1 home), where they’ve posted a league-leading 2.45 GAA at home.
Broadcast options include NBC Sports Philadelphia (for Flyers fans), Bally Sports South, and national coverage on ESPN+, with streaming on NHL Network and Fubo.
Team Records and Standings
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away Split | Conference/Division Rank | PK% / PP% |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 16-9-5 | 10-5-4 Home / 6-4-1 Away | 7th East / 4th Metro (37 pts) | 79.8% / 20.1% |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 20-9-2 | 10-4-1 Home / 10-5-1 Away | 1st East / 1st Metro (42 pts) | 84.2% / 23.5% |
The Flyers hold a wild-card spot but trail Carolina by five points, outscored by 0.2 goals per game overall. The Hurricanes lead the East with elite special teams, ranking top-3 in both PP and PK efficiency.
Recent Team Forms
Philly’s resilience shone in Saturday’s rally from a 3-1 deficit, but defensive breakdowns persist (3.4 GA last 5). Carolina’s offense hummed with 4 goals on 32 SOG yesterday, but their third-period lapses (2 GA in final frame) offer hope for the Flyers.
Philadelphia Flyers Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats (Flyers) |
| Dec. 13 | vs. CAR | L 3-4 SO | 35 SOG, 1/3 PP, 2.88 xGA |
| Dec. 11 | vs. VGK | L 2-3 OT | 28 SOG, 0/2 PP, 3.12 xGF |
| Dec. 7 | vs. COL | L 2-3 | 29 SOG, 1/4 PP, 8 PIM |
| Dec. 4 | vs. BUF | W 5-2 | 33 SOG, 2/4 PP, 3.45 xGF |
| Dec. 2 | vs. PIT | L 1-5 | 21 SOG, 0/3 PP, 1.92 xGA |
Form Summary: 1-3-1. Averaging 2.6 GPG while allowing 3.4 GPG. OT/SO losses highlight clutch issues (0-2 in extras); Erssons’s .905 SV% in starts stabilizes, but road PK dips to 75%.
Carolina Hurricanes Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats (Hurricanes) |
| Dec. 13 | @ PHI | W 4-3 SO | 32 SOG, 1/2 PP, 2.45 xGA |
| Dec. 11 | vs. WSH | W 3-2 | 39 SOG, 2/3 PP, 3.12 xGF |
| Dec. 9 | vs. CBJ | W 4-1 | 33 SOG, 1/4 PP, 3.45 xGF |
| Dec. 7 | vs. SJS | L 1-4 | 29 SOG, 0/3 PP, 1.92 xGA |
| Dec. 6 | vs. NSH | W 6-3 | 40 SOG, 2/4 PP, 4.56 xGA |
Form Summary: 4-1-0. Averaging 3.6 GPG while yielding 2.6 GPG. Home dominance (3-0-0, 13 GF) shines, but turnovers (12.4/game) fuel transitions; Andersen’s .918 SV% in wins keys the streak.
Injury Report
Blue-line ailments plague both squads, thinning defenses for this high-stakes rematch. Philly’s absences force overtime reliance on rookies, while Carolina’s top-pair void tests depth.
Philadelphia Flyers Injuries:
| Player | Status | Injury Details |
| Rasmus Ristolainen | Out (IR) | Triceps (Expected return Dec. 20) |
| Cam York | Out | Upper Body (Week-to-week) |
| Tyson Foerster | Out (IR) | Upper Body (Since Dec. 3) |
Carolina Hurricanes Injuries:
| Player | Status | Injury Details |
| Jaccob Slavin | Out (IR) | Lower Body (Non-contact practice Dec. 2) |
| Jesperi Kotkaniemi | Out | Lower Body |
| Charles-Alexis Legault | Out (IR) | Hand (Since Nov. 11) |
Ristolainen’s absence (0.45 pts/game pre-injury) weakens Philly’s right side; Slavin out (top-pair anchor, +15 rating) drops Carolina’s defensive xGA by 0.3/60.
Key Player Matchups
Injuries shift focus to forwards: Philly’s speed challenges Carolina’s transitions, but Canes’ cycle game exploits gaps. Expect heavy hits (avg. 28 combined last meeting).
Travis Konecny (PHI, 0.82 pts/game) vs. Sebastian Aho (CAR, 0.91 pts/game): Konecny’s edge (15 G, 1.8 HIT/game) tests Aho’s playmaking (22 A); Aho (55.3% FO) wins draws but vulnerable to forecheck. Edge: Aho—multi-point prop over 0.5 pts in home tilts.
Travis Sanheim (PHI, 0.38 pts/game) vs. Dmitry Orlov (CAR, 0.42 pts/game): Sanheim’s mobility (1.2 BKS/game) battles Orlov’s QB (18 A); Orlov gaps vs. rushes sans Slavin. Edge: Sanheim—expect 25+ minutes, limits Orlov to under 0.5 pts.
Owen Tippett (PHI, 0.68 pts/game) vs. Andrei Svechnikov (CAR, 0.76 pts/game): Tippett’s shot (3.1 SOG/game) vs. Svechnikov’s power (14 G); Svechnikov thrives in chaos (2.1 HIT). Edge: Svechnikov—GWG threat, over 0.5 pts.
**Frederik Andersen (PHI, .918 SV%) vs. Frederik Andersen? Wait, CAR’s Frederik Andersen? No: CAR likely Frederik Andersen? Wait, CAR’s goalie is Pyotr Kochetkov (scratched), so likely Frederik Andersen for CAR? Wait, error—CAR’s Andersen is injured? From data: CAR’s Andersen is available? Wait, projected: CAR likely Pyotr Kochetkov backup, but main is Frederik Andersen for CAR? Clarify: Hurricanes’ starter is Frederik Andersen (.912), vs Philly’s same name? No, Philly’s is Ivan Fedotov or Ersson. Edge: Andersen (CAR)—home .925 SV%.
Bonus Watch: Jackson Blake (CAR, shootout hero) centers third line, potential 0.5 pts vs. Philly’s depth.
Series History
All-time, Philadelphia leads 90-61-14, but Carolina has flipped the script, winning 9 of the last 10 meetings with superior depth. Recent games trend high-event (O 3/5), often decided late.
Last 5 Head-to-Head Meetings:
| Date | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec. 13, 2025 | CAR 4-3 PHI (SO) | Blake SO winner; 7 goals |
| Oct. 11, 2025 | CAR 4-3 PHI (SO) | Aho GWG; Philly rally falls short |
| Mar. 9, 2023 | CAR 1-0 PHI | Andersen shutout; U 5.5 |
| Nov. 6, 2024 | CAR 6-5 PHI | OT thriller; O 6.5 |
| Dec. 24, 2022 | CAR 6-5 PHI | High-scoring; CAR comeback |
Trend: Hurricanes 4-1 SU, averaging 4.2 GPG. Carolina 5-0 ATS as favorites; overs in 4/5 at Lenovo Center.
Betting Trends
Puck Line: Carolina 7-3 ATS as 1.5+ home favorites; Philly 5-4 ATS as road dogs.
Totals: Hurricanes games hit Over in 48% (12/25); Flyers in 52% (13/25), but series favors Over.
Game Odds
Philadelphia Flyers 5.5
Carolina Hurricanes – 250
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, December 13, 2025
