Flyers at Lightning
THE STORY: The Philadelphia Flyers went into the Christmas break with only one win in their last four games. It could be just a bump in the road, or injuries might be taking their toll. The Flyers could get some answers to that when they travel to play the desperate Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. Philadelphia got leading scorer Claude Giroux back for the last two games after he missed four with concussion symptoms, but forward Daniel Briere missed Friday’s game with a hand injury and is day-to-day. The Lightning are 2-1-1 in their last four, but have won only three of their last 12 games and are struggling on the power play. The teams split a pair of games this season.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CS Philadelphia, SunSports (Tampa Bay)
ABOUT THE FLYERS (21-9-4): Giroux, who led the league in points through Christmas with 43, had a six-game point streak snapped against the Rangers on Friday. The Flyers are near the top in goals per game (3.47) and could get young forwards Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier back from injuries soon. Jaromir Jagr seems to have found the fountain of youth with 29 points in 30 games. Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is winless in three games after being victorious in six straight.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (14-17-3): Tampa Bay played a strong first period against Colorado on Friday, but could only manage one goal en route to a 2-1 overtime loss. The Lightning power play continues to hurt them, going 4 for 40 in the last 13 games. The penalty-killing unit didn’t allow a goal for the first time in eight games Friday. Captain Vincent Lecavalier recorded only one goal and is a minus 8 in the last 13 games. Steven Stamkos has eight goals in 15 career games against the Flyers.
OVERTIME:
1. Tampa Bay was beaten 40-14 in the face-off circle by Colorado.
2. Flyers forward Scott Hartnell was tied for ninth in the NHL through Sunday in plus/minus at plus 20.
3. The Lightning had gained at least a point in five straight games (4-0-1) against Philadelphia before losing 5-2 on Dec. 10.