Flyers at Lightning
THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Lightning have turned things around after a rough start, winning six of eight overall and four in a row at home. That streak, which includes two shutouts at the St. Pete Times Forum, will be put to the test on Wednesday when the high-scoring Philadelphia Flyers come to town. The Flyers scored nine in their last game and have produced eight and seven in two other contests to lead the league in scoring through Monday’s action. It will be a battle of two of the best young centers in the league pitting Philadelphia's Claude Giroux and Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos. The Flyers have collected points in four straight games. The Lightning won the first three and lost in a shootout against Philadelphia last season.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET; Versus, TSN2.
ABOUT THE FLYERS (8-4-2): Captain Chris Pronger, who sustained an eye injury from a high stick Oct. 24, has skated with the team and might return to the lineup Wednesday. Giroux is among the league leaders with 19 points and has four goals and five assists during his current five-game point streak. After a slow start, Jaromir Jagr has a seven-game point streak with six goals and five assists. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov has won three straight, allowing five goals on 91 shots, since he gave up four on 10 shots against Winnipeg.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (7-5-2): Stamkos has nine goals in his last nine games and 10 overall. The 21-year-old also has eight goals in 12 career games against the Flyers, including a hat trick last season. Defenseman Victor Hedman and wing Ryan Malone have upper-body injuries and are not expected to play. Defenseman Matt Gilroy, who has four assists and is a plus-7 the last nine games, could receive a bigger role. Veteran goalie Dwayne Roloson, who stopped all 29 shots in relief of Mathieu Garon Sunday, is expected to start.
OVERTIME:
1. Philadelphia forward Sean Couturier leads all rookies with a plus-9.
2. Dominic Moore’s winner Sunday was the first shootout goal in nine tries by Tampa Bay.
3. Five different players scored a goal in Philadelphia’s 9-2 win over Columbus Saturday, equaling a club record.