Tampa Bay Lightning at Philadelphia Flyers preview: Can Nikita Kucherov reach 100 points tonight?

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Philadephia Flyers : Game 61

Time: 7:00 pm Eastern Time

Location: Wells Fargo Center

Broadcast/Streaming: NBCSP, SunS

Opponent SBNation Site: Broad Street Hockey

Preview

The Tampa Bay Lightning end their short road trip tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers to return to Amalie Arena for another couple of games. Tonight’s opponent is probably the most chaotic team in the whole league. The Flyers had at least one point in 13 of their last 14 games, but prior to this span they had 9 defeats in 10 games. They are currently six points behind the last wild-card position and still have hopes about making the Playoffs.

The last two meetings between the two team operated on the same scenario: the Bolts had a three-goal advantage by the end of the second period, but the Flyers managed to tie both games and eventually lost in overtime.

While the Lightning players are breaking franchise records, the Philadelphia Flyers are going to break the record for most different goalies used in the same season. Freshly acquired from the Edmonton Oilers, Cam Talbot would be their eight goalie this season.

Carter Hart is probably one of their most important players, and holds them in the playoff race. He has 13 wins in 20 starts, including only one defeat in his last 11 games with .924 save percentage, which is fascinating stats, given the fact that he is just 20 years old. Jakub Voracek and Sean Couturier are also among the hottest players on the team. Voracek has 10 points in his last 10 games and Couturier has 15 points in 10 games.

Victor Hedman left last night’s game after the first period. It was later announced that he has a lower body injury. As Jon Cooper told Pierre McGuire during the NBCSN broadcast it shouldn’t be very serious, but the defenseman will probably miss tonight game. It also means that he will be replaced by Anton Stralman in the line-up.

In other news, Nikita Kucherov is one-point shy of 100 points and, with 5 points in the last game, is currently on pace for 135 points this season. Steven Stamkos is two goals away of becoming the best shooter in the franchise history.

Andrei Vasilevskiy has faced 30 shots last night and was very close to the third shootout in a row, but missed a shot with 1:45 left in the game. Since it’s the second of back-to-back games, Louis Domingue probably will be given a chance.