Flyers at Lightning
Time is running short for both teams to make a move as the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday. The Flyers have not won more than two in a row all season and the Lightning have only managed to piece together two straight victories on one occasion since Feb. 1. Philadelphia has won two of three after a 2-1 shootout triumph over New Jersey on Friday and - with six days before its next game - should empty the tank against the Lightning.
Tampa Bay snapped a five-game losing streak at home and helped knock Carolina out of first place in the Southeast Division with the 4-1 victory over the Hurricanes on Saturday. The Lightning, who have split a pair with Philadelphia, are six points out of eighth place despite going 3-8-0 in their last 11. Steven Stamkos, who is the league’s leading goal-scorer, has gone two games without a tally. Stamkos' next goal will be the 200th of his career.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, RDS, TSN, NBC Sports Network, CSN (Philadelphia).
ABOUT THE FLYERS (13-15-1): Philadelphia is looking for some consistency on both ends. The Flyers have been pretty solid on special teams, with their power play and penalty killing units both in the league’s top seven. They will need some of their top forwards to step up and put the team on their back. Captain Claude Giroux, who was third in the league in scoring last season, has only one goal in the last seven games. Scott Hartnell has produced only two goals and four points in 10 games since returning from injury. Jakub Voracek is having a breakout season, leading the Flyers with 13 goals and 31 points.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (12-15-1): Tampa Bay has improved its defense by allowing 13 goals in the last six games. The Lightning can get back in the race if they get hot on the other end of the ice. Without injured Benoit Pouliot and captain Vincent Lecavalier, they will have to get production from their young forwards such as Alex Killorn, Cory Conacher, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson. Stamkos, who has 20 goals, has skated with Teddy Purcell and Martin St. Louis often the last two games. Ryan Malone has played a lot with Nate Thompson and B.J. Crombeen on a checking unit that has been productive.
OVERTIME
1. Philadelphia D Kimmo Timonen is expected to play his 1,000th career game. Tampa Bay D Matt Carle, who is a former Flyer, will play in his 500th.
2. Johnson led the American Hockey League with 32 goals before being recalled by the Lightning on Thursday.
3. Tampa Bay D Radko Gudas has 14 hits and seven blocks while averaging over 18 minutes of ice time in his first three NHL games.