Game 57: Lightning at Flyers

Tampa Bay Lightning: 24-27-6, 54 points
Philadelphia Flyers: 30-21-5, 65 points

Johan Holmqvist v. Martin Biron

The Flyers try to end their 4 game losing streak when they take on the Tampa Lightning, currently sitting at least place in the East. Make no mistake about it though; the Flyers struggle against Tampa, and are 2-10-1-1 in the last 14 meetings against them. The most recent one was a Flyers win.

Martin Biron will be back in net tonight. After taking the loss against Pittsburgh Sunday, Biron got the Islanders game off, despite having good career success against them. In his career against Tampa, Biron is 7-4-2 with a 2.36 GAA and .909 SV%.

The four game slide has to stop now. Despite where each team is in the standings, they could be heading in opposite directions. The Flyers are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games, while the Lightning are 6-3-1. As I mentioned before, the Lightning have owned the Flyers as of late, including the pre-lockout ECF defeat. The team needs to find a way to get past these guys and pick up some points.

When you're against the Lightning, you worry about one guy, and that's Vinny Lecavlier. He's developing into one of the league's best, and any line with him can generate a lot of scoring. He plays well on both ends of the ice, and he can hold his own against some of the highest scoring lines in the league. Brad Richards might be a guy you want to take advantage of. He's not good defensively, and the Flyers could use a little boost to score some more goals.

Bill Meltzer has scratches, but there is a lineup change he hasn't mentioned as of posting this.

Simon Gagne
Braydon Coburn
Scottie Upshall
Rory Fitzpatrick
Mike Rathje

Derian Hatcher is out of the lineup tonight. He's had knee problems all year, and John Stevens is giving him a break tonight. Lasse Kukkonen will be back in the lineup, so it looks like he could be a healthy scratch again when everyone is back healthy... if that ever happens. If I remember correctly, Hatcher had one of his better games against the Lightning, so this could be a bit of a loss tonight.