Jakub Voracek will face the Flyers for the first time since being traded.
Cam Atkinson will face the Blue Jackets for the first time since being traded.
It's a reunion night Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center as the Flyers (13-18-8) host the Blue Jackets (17-18-1).
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Let's get into the essentials for the game:
- When: 7 p.m. ET with The Warm Up at 6 p.m. ET and Flyers Pregame Live at 6:15 p.m. ET
- Where: Wells Fargo Center
- Broadcast: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Live stream: NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com and the NBC Sports MyTeams app
• Atkinson became one of the most accomplished Blue Jackets during his decade in Columbus.
He has spoken highly of the organization and the city.
NHL
"The fifth line over there, they're great fans," he said Thursday after morning skate. "The community itself, we love Columbus, we plan on living in Columbus when I'm done playing hockey."
But ever since the offseason trade, he's been pretty pumped for a new chapter in Philadelphia. His play has shown it, too. Despite the Flyers' struggles, Atkinson has a team-best 15 goals to go along with 14 assists and a plus-6 rating. The 15 goals match his output from last season in 56 games.
"I love it here," Atkinson said. "For me, everything happens for a reason. I think I was born to wear the Flyers jersey."
The Flyers will need Atkinson to keep it up. They've scored only 2.00 goals per game during their nine-game skid (0-6-3). Through that stretch, Atkinson has put up nine points on three goals and six assists.
"When you can see a guy go out and perform at that level and bring what he brings night after night after night, that says a tremendous amount about his preparation and his professionalism," Flyers interim head coach Mike Yeo said of Atkinson.
Atkinson will make his return to Columbus on April 7.
• The Flyers are trying to avoid a second 10-game losing streak of the season. They lost 10 straight (0-8-2) from Nov. 18 to Dec. 8.
"I'm a strong believer in not looking at the big picture," Claude Giroux said after the Flyers' 4-3 shootout loss Tuesday to the Islanders. "For us, it's get ready for Columbus next game, go one game at a time. We keep playing the right way, keep battling together as a team and then we can start looking at the standings."
• Voracek makes his first trip back to Philadelphia since being traded for Atkinson during the summer.
The 32-year-old winger exited the NHL's COVID protocol late last night and arrived to the arena early in the morning.
Voracek played 10 years for the Flyers and ranks fifth on the franchise's all-time assist list.
"I'm always going to remember Philly," Voracek said after morning skate. "It's going to hold a special place in my heart.
"It's been such a fun and good ride. When you spend a decade with your friends in one of the best sports towns in the world, it's been good."
Projected lineup
Forwards
Joel Farabee-Claude Giroux-Cam Atkinson
Oskar Lindblom-Scott Laughton-Travis Konecny
James van Riemsdyk-Morgan Frost-Gerry Mayhew
Max Willman-Connor Bunnaman-Zack MacEwen
Defensemen
Ivan Provorov-Justin Braun
Cam York-Travis Sanheim
Keith Yandle-Rasmus Ristolainen
Goalies
Carter Hart
Martin Jones
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