The set-up: It's early but the Vancouver Canucks are "thinking playoffs" after winning three in a row to climb into a playoff position in the Western Conference at 14-10-4 (32 points have them 3rd in the Pacific Division). The Canucks have missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons and three of the past four, but can match their best run of the campaign by beating the rejuvenated Flyers tonight at home. Philadelphia comes into this contest having posted back-to-back wins over Calgary and Edmonton, after enduring a 10-game losing streak (0-5-5). The thought of being in the playoffs is surely not on anyone's mind in Philly right now, as the Flyers check in just 10-11-7 on the season and tied for last in the Metropolitan Division with Carolina at 27 points.

Philadelphia: The Flyers limited Edmonton to 26 shots on Wednesday while receiving two points each from captain Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds in a 4-2 triumph and improved to 2-0-0 on its three-game Western Canada trip, as well as being 6-5-3 on the road for the season. Jakub Voracek notched his fourth assist on the trip Wednesday and leads the team with 34 points, while Giroux (11 G / 19 A) reached 30 points and fellow forward Sean Couturier (14 & 14) gives Philadelphia three players with at least 28. "We have to stay hungry for wins," Flyers winger Dale Weise told Philly.com. "I think, when you lose 10 in a row, you kind of get that hunger back -- not that we didn't have it at the beginning of the year, but I think we've got that urgency in our game now where we just hate to lose and it really bothers every guy in here."

Vancouver: The Canucks have allowed four goals during their three-game winning streak with Jacob Markstrom recording his first shutout in his 129th career game on Tuesday (a 3-0 victory over Carolina). Defenseman Derrick Pouliot was acquired from Pittsburgh in an early-season trade and has made a solid impact (he had a goal and two assists on Tuesday). "I'm starting to add things to my game," Pouliot, a former first-round pick, told reporters. "So, if I'm playing well defensively, that's where it starts, and I can add the offensive stuff after that." Brock Broeser leads with 25 points (13 & 12), while the team's second-leading scorer is Bo Horvat (10 & 10 for 20 points points), although he left Tuesday's game with what coach Travis Green said was "a small injury" and his status for Thursday is uncertain.

The pick: The Flyers are mired well below the playoff bar in the Eastern Conference and have won two successive games only twice this season. They will be playing the second of back-to-back road games here, as well as their third road game in four nights. Tough spot for teh Flyers and the Canucks will be hoping to match their 5-2 victory back on Nov. 21 at Philadelphia. The Fyers have suddenly "perked up" and I'm not sure I trust Vancouver just yet, so I'll make the Over a 10*