Flyers

Flyers-Lightning: Game 36 Preview

By
Kevin Durso
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Kevin Durso Sports Editor

I have been writing for Sports Talk Philly since 2011. Currently editor and lead writer of Philadelphia Flyers coverage. Co-host of the YWT Podcast. I also am Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN-FM in South Jersey. I graduated from Cabrini University in 2014.

All posts by Kevin Durso
Sports Editor

Published27 Dec 2018

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11-17-2018_FlyersvsDLightning_2nd_credKateFrese-3

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor Flyers-Lightning: Game 36 Preview

After a three-day break, the Flyers return to the ice to face a challenge in the East's best team.

The Flyers gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a run for their money in November, erasing a 5-1 lead in under seven minutes to force overtime, before ultimately suffering the defeat. Tampa has some help back in netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy and is also fresh off the break.

Game time is at 7:30 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Tampa Bay Lightning GP G A P
Claude Giroux 35 12 30 42 Nikita Kucherov 37 16 41 57
Jake Voracek 35 9 19 28 Brayden Point 37 21 26 47
Sean Couturier 33 14 13 27 Steven Stamkos 37 20 19 39
Travis Konecny 35 9 12 21 Tyler Johnson 36 16 11 27
Wayne Simmonds 35 11 5 16 J.T. Miller 37 7 19 26
 
Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux 91 Steven Stamkos
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 2 A, 3 P, +1 Last 5 Games: 5 G, 1 A, 6 P, -2
 
The Flyers captain has been the only player to really consistently put up points. After a three-day break, the Flyers need Claude Giroux to lead the way against a tough Lightning team. 
 
Steven Stamkos has really been Tampa's best goal scorer of late with five goals in the last four games. Always a threat, especially on the power play, look for him to make an impact early.
 
Goalie Matchup
30 Michal Neuvirth 88 Andrei Vasilevskiy 
3 GP, 1-2-0, 4.34 GAA, .833 SV% 17 GP, 12-3-2, 2.39 GAA, .928 SV%

Michal Neuvirth earned a second straight start with a stellar game in New York on Sunday. With the Flyers traveling to Tampa on Thursday morning as part of the league's mandated three-day holiday break, it's probably best that they don't throw Carter Hart into a strange situation and allow him the practice days before his next start.

Andrei Vasilevskiy was injured the last time the Lightning faced the Flyers, but the Tampa netminder is back and ready to go. Tampa is 3-0-1 since his return from injury and Vasilevskiy has a .930 save percentage in that time.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Brian Elliott, Anthony Stolarz, Corban Knight

Scratches: Jori Lehtera, Jordan Weal, Christian Folin

Left Wing Center Right Wing
25 James van Riemsdyk 28 Claude Giroux 11 Travis Konecny
17 Wayne Simmonds 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
21 Scott Laughton 19 Nolan Patrick 12 Michael Raffl
23 Oskar Lindblom 44 Phil Varone 22 Dale Weise
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 6 Travis Sanheim  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 8 Robert Hagg  
47 Andrew MacDonald 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
30 Michal Neuvirth    

Lineup Notes

No changes are expected to the lineup.

Lightning Projected Lineup

Injuries: Mathieu Joseph

Scratches: Ryan Callahan, Slater Koekkoek, Mikhail Sergachev 

Left Wing Center Right Wing
10 J.T. Miller 91 Steven Stamkos 9 Tyler Johnson
18 Ondrej Palat 21 Brayden Point 86 Nikita Kucherov
17 Alex Killorn 71 Anthony Cirelli 37 Yanni Gourde
73 Adam Erne 13 Cedric Paquette 62 Danick Martel
Defense    
77 Victor Hedman 6 Anton Stralman  
27 Ryan McDonagh 81 Erik Cernak  
55 Braydon Coburn 5 Dan Girardi  
Goalie    
88 Andrei Vasilevskiy    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (29th, 28th on road), Lightning (1st, 9th at home)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (T-27th, 26th on road), Lightning (8th, 2nd at home) 
  • Recent History vs. Lightning
    • Dec. 29, 2017 – Flyers 5, Lightning 3 (at TB)
    • Jan. 25, 2018 – Lightning 5, Flyers 1 (at PHI)
    • March 3, 2018 – Lightning 7, Flyers 6 (F/SO) (at TB)
    • Nov. 17, 2018 – Lightning 6, Flyers 5 (F/OT) (at PHI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Lightning
    • Claude Giroux – 33 GP, 4 G, 30 A, 34 P
    • Travis Konecny – 7 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 6 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 32 GP, 15 G, 11 A, 16 P
    • Michal Neuvirth – 9 GP, 4-3-0, 3.02 GAA, .906 SV%
  • Milestone Watch
    • Wayne Simmonds needs two goals to reach 200 as a Flyer.
    • James van Riemsdyk needs two assists to reach 200 in his career.
    • Ivan Provorov will play in his 200th NHL game tonight.

Where to Watch
TV: NBCSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic