Game Twenty-Two: Philadelphia Flyers (11-6-3) at Tampa Bay Lightning (12-7-2)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: Benchmark International Arena, on the shores of Garrison Channel

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

Odds: Lightning -175

Know the Opponents: Broad Street Hockey

First things first. It looks like Nikita Kucherov will play tonight for the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Hockey Fights Cancer Night game against the Philadelphia Flyers. So that’s the good news.

The less-than-happy news is that it appears Brayden Point will not play. After the team’s morning skate, Coach Jon Cooper mentioned that his center is out for tonight’s game and “dicey” for the game on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings. So, yeah, that’s not great.

One more thing. Erik Cernak also won’t be participating in tonight’s in-game activities, and his absence from the line-up will be a little longer as Coach Cooper, after coming to an agreement with the assembled media as to what constitutes “significant” time , confirmed that his right-shot defender will be out for a bit,

“Yeah, for sure week-to-week.”

In response to the continuing deluge of injuries, the Lightning recalled one of their prospects from the Syracuse Crunch. It wasn’t a forward as some expected, but a former forward. Max Groshev received the phone call and will be spending some time in Tampa. He’s not slated to play tonight, but with the way things are going it’s only a matter of time until he’s in the line-up.

Based on who was on the ice, the Lightning are probably going to be able to go 12/6 tonight with Kucherov able to go and Jack Finley centering a line with Curtis Douglas and Oliver Bjorkstrand. If the game plays out as the morning skate did, Dominic James gets a boost in confidence as he’ll be centering a line with Jake Guentzel and Gage Goncalves.

Whatever the combinations are, they’ll have to be ready for a Philadelphia Flyers team that can’t be taken lightly. Despite being one of the youngest teams in the league (Elite Prospects has them ranked 5th) they are currently in a playoff spot as they hang onto the second Wild Card spot. No doubt that they’ll be looking at this game as a test. The Lightning may be battered, but they are still considered a top dog in the league and a team like the Flyers will be stoked to earn a win against them.

Despite their youth, they have been fairly solid defensively, allowing just 24.69 SCA/60 and 9.52 HDCA/60 at 5v5. With the decent goaltending they’ve received from Dan Vladar (2.42 GAA, .912 SV%) they have been better than what outsiders might expect.

Offensively, they’ve been led by the rejuvenated Trevor Zegras. Acquired in the off-season from Anaheim, the skilled, young forward has 21 points (7 goals, 14 assists) in 20 games. They have done an excellent job of spreading out their goal-scoring as eight different players have at least five goals on the season, and ten players have reached double digits in points.

It’ll be a test for the Lightning’s depth tonight as the Bolts close out their stretch of five home games in seven.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:

Brandon HagelAnthony CirelliNikita KucherovJake GuentzelDominic JamesGage GoncalvesZemgus GirgensonsNick PaulYanni GourdeCurtis DouglasJack FinleyOliver Bjorkstrand

Defense:

J.J. MoserDarren RaddyshCharle-Edouard D’AstousEmil LillebergDeclan CarlileSteven Santini

Goaltenders:

Andrei VasilevskiyJonas Johansson

Philadelphia Flyers

Forwards:

Matvei MichkovSean CouturierBobby BrinkTyson FoersterNoah CatesTravis KonecnyTrevor ZegrasChristian DvorakOwen TippettNicolas DeslauriersRodrigo AbolsGarnet Hathaway

Defense:

Cam YorkTravis SanheimNick SeelerEgor ZamulaEmil AndreJamie Drysdale

Goaltenders: