In a pivotal clash to solidify their position in the playoffs, the Philadelphia Flyers (35-26-8) led by coach John Tortorella are set to take on Rod Brind'Amour's Carolina Hurricanes (43-20-6) in Raleigh on Thursday night. This will be the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season, with the Flyers aiming to improve their record against the Hurricanes.

Currently standing in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 78 points, the Flyers are in control of their own destiny. Despite the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders trailing closely behind, the Flyers need only focus on their own performance to secure their automatic playoff spot.

Following a hard-fought 4-3 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, the Flyers demonstrated their resilience and ability to find ways to win. However, they face a formidable challenge against the Hurricanes, who boast impressive statistics as the NHL's best puck possession team and excel in shot quality. Carolina leads the league in both shot differential and expected goals for/against, making them a tough opponent.

To prevail against Carolina, the Flyers will need to dominate faceoffs and maintain puck possession. In their previous bout against Toronto, the Flyers struggled in the faceoff circle, and breaking even in 50-50 battles will be crucial. Clearing the puck efficiently from the defensive zone will be paramount, as failed clears can prove fatal against a team like the Hurricanes.

Scoring goals through screens, deflections, and rebounds will be essential for the Flyers, who have relied heavily on goals off the rush throughout the season. Creating layered screens and involving teammates to disrupt opposing goaltenders will be vital to their success.

The Flyers have shown promise in their younger players, with defenseman Cam York impressing with his solid performances in all three zones. The offensive contributions of Owen Tippett, Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, and Tyson Foerster have also played a significant role in the team's recent performances.

Special teams will be another aspect to watch in this matchup. The Flyers' power play has shown improvement, whereas their penalty kill has experienced a slight dip in form. The Hurricanes present an efficient power play but are vulnerable to shorthanded counterattacks, something the Flyers could potentially exploit.

The Hurricanes pose a unique challenge with their team speed and depth both upfront and on the blue line. Although they lack dominance at the top of the scoring leaderboard, they have multiple players who have already surpassed the 20-goal mark and several contributors with 35-plus points.

While the Hurricanes may not possess an elite goaltender, Pyotr Kochetkov has quietly displayed a strong campaign with consistent performances. In his last four starts, he has recorded three wins and save percentages of 90 percent or better in each game.

As the regular season nears its end, this matchup holds significant importance for both teams. The Flyers seek to secure their playoff spot, while the Hurricanes aim to overtake the New York Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan Division. With both teams hungry for valuable points, Thursday's game promises high stakes and intense competition.

Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. EDT at PNC Arena in Raleigh and will be televised on NBCSP.