The Philadelphia Flyers spent three months getting themselves into the thick of the Metropolitan Division race. Now they have to fight to stay there.
The third-place Flyers, losers of three straight (0-2-1) host the second-place Pittsburgh Penguins (38-25-4) on Wednesday night.
The Flyers (34-21-11) had won six straight before their downturn and have nine games remaining with Metro foes, including two against the Penguins. Non-division games provide no respite with Boston, Winnipeg and Vegas looming.
"We know we're in the heart of our schedule and we know the task at hand," defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere told Philly.