Former Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier could record his 500th career assist against his former team on Saturday. Lecavalier scored for the Flyers in their 4-2 loss in Tampa Bay on Nov. 27. (Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com)
When the Philadelphia Flyers returned home for their first home game in two weeks, the Montreal Canadiens were the waiting opponent. They were ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference, one spot ahead of the Flyers.
In their second of seven home games in the month of January, the Flyers now set their sights on the team in third place in the East. There is a little revenge on the line as the Flyers host the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Lightning sit six points ahead of the Flyers, so another regulation win – as all wins on their 10-game win streak have come – would be huge for the Flyers to continue to announce their presence as contenders in the East.
Like Flyers captain Claude Giroux, Lightning captain Martin St. Louis was a Team Canada snub for Sochi. That will likely get him to start playing with an edge as the season rolls on. St. Louis leads the team with 41 points, including 19 goals – also most on the team.
Victor Hedman, who has eight goals and 16 assists, scored the game-winning goal in the only previous meeting between the two teams, a 4-2 Flyers loss on Nov. 27.
Other offensive weapons for the Lightning include Valtteri Filppula, Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn. Teddy Purcell, Ryan Malone and Matt Carle are also noted veterans with Tampa Bay.
Both teams are dealing with injury news, but what hit the Lightning is far worse. Goalie Ben Bishop is out with a wrist injury and currently on injured reserve. While the injury may not affect Tampa Bay for more than just a few more days, they will have to start Anders Lindback. Lindback has a 4-9-1 record, compared to Bishop's 22-5-3 record, and a 3.18 GAA, compared to Bishop's 1.86 GAA.
Also still out indefinitely is Steven Stamkos. The star player for the Lightning is still recovering from a broken tibia.
The Flyers will start Steve Mason in goal. Mason has an 18-10-4 record with a 2.35 GAA.
The Flyers will also count on the top two lines that have been regularly doing the scoring of late, particularly the likes of Giroux, Jake Voracek, Scott Hartnell and Brayden Schenn.
However, this could be a big game for the third line. Sean Couturier scored in the Flyers win on Wednesday. For forwards Steve Downie and Vincent Lecavalier, this could be a special day. Both have milestones on the line against their former team. Lecavalier scored in the Flyers loss to Tampa Bay in November.
Saturday will also mark the return of Tye McGinn. McGinn was called up in the place of injured forward Zac Rinaldo.
The Flyers also have to defend a lengthy home streak that could the longest for the franchise in over a decade. The Flyers last won 11 straight game on home ice in 2003-04.
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (19th, 29th at home), Lightning (21st, 24th on road)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (8th, 6th at home), Lightning (17th, 16th on road)
- The Flyers faced the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 27, a 4-2 loss in Tampa Bay. Vincent Lecavalier and Mark Streit scored for the Flyers in the defeat.
- Milestone Watch: Steve Downie is one assist away from 100 in his career. Vincent Lecavalier is one assists from 500 for his career.
Flyers scratches: Matt Read, Erik Gustafsson, Hal Gill, Tye McGinn, Zac Rinaldo
Flyers Projected Lineup
Line 1: Michael Raffl-Claude Giroux-Jake Voracek
Line 2: Scott Hartnell-Brayden Schenn-Wayne Simmonds
Line 3: Steve Downie-Sean Couturier-Vincent Lecavalier
Line 4: Chris VandeVelde-Adam Hall-Jay Rosehill
D-Pair 1: Kimmo Timonen-Braydon Coburn
D-Pair 2: Nick Grossmann-Mark Streit
D-Pair 3: Luke Schenn-Andrej Meszaros
Goalie: Steve Mason
Where to Watch
TV: CSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Kevin Durso is the lead beat writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
