Flyers vs Lightning, Game 48: Notes, Lineups, and How to Watch
The Flyers will look to get back in the win column as they finish up a four-game home stand against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
This is the first of three meetings between Philadelphia and Tampa Bay. They will have another matchup in Philadelphia on Feb. 27 and wrap up the season series in Tampa on Mar. 9. The Lightning won two of the three games last season. The Flyers scored three straight goals to claim a 3-2 victory on Oct. 18. Steven Stamkos scored his 1,000th point in a 4-3 win on Dec. 1. Nic Paul also had two goals in the victory. Alex Killorn and Nikita Kucherov torched the Flyers with a combined six points in a 5-2 win on Mar. 7.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Lightning has been a thorn in the Flyers' side for the last few years. They have won just one game in the last 13 meetings with Tampa, going 1-9-3. To salvage the end of this home stand, Philadelphia will need to find a way to limit the Lightning's potent offense. They average 3.32 goals per game but have averaged 3.30 goals against. However, you do not want to get into a scoring match with their offense.
The Flyers will have a slightly different look to them for the time being. Sam Ersson is expected to get the bulk of the upcoming starts, as Carter Hart has been granted an indefinite leave from the team. Cal Petersen has been recalled to fill the backup goaltender role. Owen Tippett was moved to IR to accommodate the move. This doesn't mean that he has suffered a setback. Instead, the Flyers are likely playing it safe with the All-Star breaking coming up.
Bobby Brink was also sent to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last night where he will be able to get adequate playing time. Olle Lycksell was called up and is expected to play against the Lightning. With Nic Deslauriers and Marc Staal skating extra after the morning skate, the Flyers appear to be sticking with an 11/7 lineup.
Flyers Projected Lineup
Joel Farabee - Sean Couturier - Travis Konecny
Tyson Foerster - Scott Laughton - Garnet Hathaway
Olle Lycksell - Morgan Frost - Cam Atkinson
Noah Cates - Ryan Poehling
Travis Sanheim - Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler - Sean Walker
Cam York - Rasmus Ristolainen
Egor Zamula
Sam Ersson
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning had their five-game win streak snapped on Sunday in a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings. It was the first time since Dec. 30, a stretch of eight games, that they only produced one goal. Victor Hedman tallied the only goal in that game, a first period tally. This Lightning group, while producing plenty of talented players, is not the Cup-contending team they used to be.
They are still led by Kucherov, who has 28 goals and 76 points. Kucherov has, far and away, been the leader of this Tampa team. It is rare for him to go more than a single game without a point. Two games are his longest drought, and that was back on Oct. 30 - Nov. 2. The reason for Tampa's struggles is the next closest player to him in points is Brayden Point. He has 48 points this season. Point is slightly behind in goals with 21, while Steven Stamkos has 19 tallies.
Goaltending was also a concern as Andrei Vasilevskiy missed the first few months of the season after back surgery. He did not make his season debbut until the end of November. Tampa rode Jonas Johansson for a majority of that time. Vasilevskiy is expected to tend the net against the Flyers. He is 12-3-0 against Philadelphia in his career.
Lightning Projected Lineup
Steven Stamkos - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Michael Eyssimont
Conor Sheary - Nic Paul - Waltteri Merela
Tyler Motte - Luke Glendening - Alex Barre-Boulet
Victor Hedman - Darren Raddysh
Calvin de Haan - Nick Perbix
Emil Lilleberg - Max Crozier
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Time: 7:00 PM
Where: Wells Fargo Center
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Live Stream: FuboTV
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