Flyers-Flames: 5 things you need to know

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The Flyers (29-23-6) and Flames (22-28-7) meet for the final time this season today.

It’s also the last game for both teams for a few weeks as the NHL breaks for the Olympics.

Puck drop is set for 1 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center (CSN).

Here are five things you need to know:

1. Finish strong
The Flyers are rolling right now and it’s important to head into the break with two more points, especially considering the quality of opponent they’re facing today.

Winning four of their last five, the Flyers have three straight wins over three of the best teams in the Western Conference -- the Kings, Sharks and Avalanche. They had a tough 5-3 loss to the Ducks last week, but played Anaheim extremely well.

This is the problem with the Flyers and their inconsistency. They beat teams you’d expect them to lose to, but then fall to teams you’d expect them to beat. There is no excuse for the Orange and Black to leave Wells Fargo Center today without a victory.

Calgary is a team in transition and six games under .500. However, it is riding a hot streak of its own. The Flames have won six of their last seven games, but they’re still a team the Flyers should beat.

The Flyers beat the Flames, 4-1, on New Year’s Eve. Losing to Calgary to enter the break would be a dagger in the Flyers’ hearts. It’s a critical game.

2. Loving the West
Steve Mason misses the Western Conference, because this season he’s tearing it apart.

In his last 10 games vs. Western Conference teams, Mason is 7-2-1 with a 2.26 goals-against average and .928 save percentage, including a shutout. This year, he’s 10-6-2 with a 2.30 GAA and .925 save percentage against his former conference.

The 25-year-old has rebounded quite nicely in the last couple of weeks after a rough patch. He’s allowed seven goals in his last five games, including two shutouts. His confidence appears back, which is great because the Flyers’ defense still has its warts.

Mason has faced the Flames a fair amount in his career, posting pedestrian numbers. In 13 games vs. Calgary, Mason has a 5-4-3 record with a 2.97 GAA and .892 save percentage with one shutout.

In the prior meeting between these two teams this year, Mason had the night off. While the Flyers would probably like to get Ray Emery one more start before the break, it’s not a good idea to let Mason have more time off than needed.

3. Getting offensive
What’s behind the Flames’ recent stretch?

Calgary’s offense has been electric in its last seven games, scoring 25 goals -- 3.57 goals per game, 1.25 more goals per game than its season average.

The Flames' only loss during the span was a 2-0 shutout in Montreal.

Youngsters Mikael Backlund, 24, and Sean Monahan, 19, have carried the offense of late. Backlund has 10 points in his last six games, while Monahan has five points -- three goals -- during the stretch.

Monahan, the Flames’ first-round pick in 2013 (sixth overall), leads the team with 16 goals.

Jiri Hudler leads the team with 43 points. He has just three points in the Flames’ last seven games.

4. Three's Company
With Karri Ramo battling a lower-body injury, Reto Berra will get the call again in net.

Berra has started the last three games and he’s been good enough to win but not spectacular. He’s 2-1-0 in those games, but he allowed one goal in the loss; in the two wins, he allowed five goals.

The 27-year-old was in net when the Flyers scored four goals on Calgary on Dec. 31. He stopped 17 of 20 shots in the loss, as the Orange and Black also added an empty netter.

On the season, Berra has a 3.06 GAA and .896 save percentage. Given how well Mason has been playing, three goals on Berra today should be enough for a victory.

5. This and that

• Mark Streit has power-play goals in his last two games. He had two in the first 56 games.

• The Flyers have a PP goal in each of their last eight games. It's the longest active streak in NHL.

• Calgary has won four of its last five games in Philadelphia.

• Monahan’s 16 goals are the most goals by a Flames rookie since Dion Phaneuf had 20 in 2006-07.

• When Claude Giroux scores, the Flyers are 15-2-1 this season.

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