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Game Sixty-seven: Philadelphia Flyers (28-32-8) at Tampa Bay Lightning (39-24-3)
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Location: Amalie Arena, Tampa
TV/Stream/Radio: FDSNSUN, NBCSP, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App
Odds: Lightning -250
Know the Opponents: Broad Street Hockey
From high in the rafters of almost every arena where a hockey game has ever been played, someone, usually one who has imbibed more than one adult beverage, has yelled “shoot the puck!”. Frequently it happens when the team that person is cheering for doesn’t even have the puck. It’s a hockey cliche at this point. Sometimes, however, that intoxicated numskull has a point.
In their last outing the Tampa Bay Lightning listened to that inner fan and unleashed more than their fair share of shots at the Boston net. It paid off as they skated the Bruins off their home ice in the second period on their way to a 6-2 victory.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Lightning had 91 shot attempts in the game. Based on a quick search the last time the Bolts breached the 90 shot-attempt barrier was back on 01/06/2018 against the Ottawa Senators when they had 93 in a 6-3 loss. It was also 37 more attempts than they had in their previous game, which came against the Philadelphia Flyers.
With the Flyers back in town, the Lightning are looking to extract a little revenge, hopefully in regulation (unlike the previous two meetings this season). The Bolts showed their fans and the coaches what they can do when they’re clicking on all cylinders, and they need to keep that going tonight because the teams chasing them aren’t letting up any time soon.
While the volume of shots was impressive, it was the location of the shots that did the most damage. The blueliners were prominently involved and able to get their shots past the first line of defense. Getting the shots on net, or knocked down by defenders right in front of the net allowed the forwards, who fought for position all night long, were able to get to the rebounds. Victor Hedman and Nick Paul both scored on rebounds. Anthony Cirelli scored on a deflection.
Those are the types of goals that have been missing from the Lightning’s arsenal of late, and they’re the type of goals that decide playoff games. It was nice that they did it for one night. Now they have to show it’s a repeatable trait. Doing it against the Flyers tonight makes it a trend, not a one-off.
Perhaps there is some comfort developing among the lines. Yanni Gourde had his best night as a member of the Lightning (the second time ’round) as part of the top line with Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel. He had two assists, five shot attempts, three high-danger chances, and was a general menace all night long. With him jiving on the top line, that let Nikita Kucherov skate with Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli, a line that generated 11 scoring chances.
The question will be if Coach Cooper sticks with these lines or if he mixes them up again. The Lightning went with an 11/7 rotation on the road, and could stick with that tonight. Even if they don’t, inserting Mitchell Chaffee onto the fourth line shouldn’t affect the rotation of the top three lines. Hopefully, we’ll see a little consistency over the next few games and the Bolts can get things rolling again.
No time like today to get another winning streak going.
PhiladelphiaStats over Last 10 Games (5v5)Tampa Bay2.44GPG2.653.02GAPG2.174.4%PP%20.0%72.7%PK%88.0%49.46%5v5 Shot Attempt %48.98%53.55%5v5 High-Danger Chances %50.93%9.25%5v5 Shooting %10.14%.8885v5 Save %.921Noah Cates – 4G LeaderJake Guentzel – 5Bobby Brink – 6A LeaderNikita Kucherov – 8Bobby Brink -9P LeaderNikita Kucherov – 10Nick Seeler – 6PIM LeaderEmil Lilleberg – 113-6-1Record 6-3-1
Tampa Bay Lightning
Forwards:
Jake GuentzelBrayden PointYanni GourdeBrandon HagelAnthony CirelliNikita KucherovGage GoncalvesNick PaulOliver BjorkstrandZemgus GirgensonsLuke GlendeningMitchell Chaffee
Defense:
Victor HedmanJ.J. MoserRyan McDonaghErik CernakEmil LillebergDarren Raddysh
Goaltenders:
Andrei VasilevskiyJonas Johansson
Philadelphia Flyers
Forwards:
Tyson FoersterNoah CatesTravis KonecnyOwen TippettSean CouturierMatvei MichkovOlle LycksellRyan PoehlingBobby BrinkNicolas DeslauriersRodrigo AbolsJakob Pelletier
Defense:
Cam YorkTravis SanheimNick SeelerJamie DrysdaleEgor ZamulaEmil Andrae
Goaltenders:
Samuel ErssonIvan Fedotov
