Once more, with feeling: Lightning at Flyers (again) preview

Game Forty-Four: Tampa Bay Lightning (27-13-3) at Philadelphia Flyers (22-13-8)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena, The sixth-most populous city in America.

TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, NBCSP, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -145

Know the Opponents: Broad Street Hockey

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers meet for the second time in three nights and the level of tension might be just a bit higher than it was during the Lightning’s 7-2 win on Saturday. While it was a tight-checking game it wasn’t an overly physical game. There was some pushing and shoving, but only one fight, and that came early in the match. Those that counts such stats had the final hit count at 50 (18 for the Lightning, 32 for the Flyers) which isn’t an abnormal amount.

Things might be a little different tonight as the Flyers look to atone for a dismal loss in which they hung their goaltender out to dry over the final 35 minutes of the game. They are a proud team that was adjusting to life without some of their top forwards as well as defenseman Jamie Drysdale. While no one is healthier, the Flyers should be better prepared.

As for the Lightning? Well, they’re riding a nine-game winning streak, their longest streak of success since they put together eleven- and ten-game streaks back during the 2019-20 season. They’ve won in all types of manner, from close, low-scoring games, to run-and-gun games, to blowouts. After tinkering with the forward groups due to injuries and inconsistency, it seems Coach Jon Cooper has settled on a regular rotation.

Will he mix things up with the potential of Philadelphia playing a heavier game and inject Curtis Douglas (scratched since 12/27), Jack Finley (scratched since 12/22), or Scott Sabourin (on injured reserve since December 30, but eligible to return)? If so, who comes out? Dominic James is the likely forward as Nick Paul can slide back to the middle of the ice if Douglas or Sabourin (who was wearing a no-contact Jersey prior to the Lightning flying to Philadelphia for the weekend) get the call, or stay on the wing if it’s Finley.

No matter who is in the line-up, if the Lightning want their winning streak to continue, their attention to detail will have to continue. They are limiting their mistakes and defending the front of their net. There has also a noticeable crispness to their game where they are moving the puck out of their zone which allows them to attack through the neutral zone quicker and drive the defenders back.

Keeping things simple will be the best way for this team to make it ten in a row.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

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Defense:

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Philadelphia Flyers

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Defense:

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