The Tampa Bay Lightning are in Philadelphia today for what will be the second of three matches this season between them and the Flyers. The Bolts are looking to rebound from Thursday’s disappointing 4-3 loss at home, while the Flyers are hoping to keep their recent hot streak at the Wells Fargo Center alive.

It’s hard to believe that the same Flyers team that started 2013-14 with a 1-7-0 record is now jockeying for playoff positioning within the Metropolitan Division. That’s reality, though. Thanks in large part to a stretch that has seen them win 10 (!) straight times on home ice, the Flyers now boast a very respectable record of 23-17-4. The Lightning only have three more wins than the Flyers this season. That’s pretty incredible stuff, if you ask me.

While today’s task at hand looks like a tall one on paper, it’s worth noting that Tampa Bay has already had a little bit of success against the Flyers this season. Victor Hedman led the charge, as the Bolts managed to double up on Philadelphia by a score of 4-2 back on November 27th. Today’s contest will almost certainly be a different animal, but at least the Lightning have something to draw on.

What Tampa won’t have today, however, is goaltender Ben Bishop. Sidelined with an injury and currently listed on injured reserve, the big goaltender has been missed in a very significant way. Anders Lindback, who has played every minute in Bishop’s absence, hasn’t performed well enough. The good news, though, is that it was Lindback who was in goal when the Lightning beat the Flyers earlier this year. Maybe, just maybe, he can build on that respectable performance and play a solid game for the guys in front of him.

Radko Gudas is listed as questionable for the game, as he was injured in Thursday’s loss to the Capitals. As much as he’s struggled on a few nights this year, Gudas is a huge part of the Lightning’s blue line. It’s hard to make up for his physical presence and tenacity, but it sounds like the team might have to do that if he can’t suit up. His status, along with that of JT Brown, is still up in the air as of writing time.

If you’re looking for a magical storyline, look no further than the battle between the two biggest Olympic snubs. Both Marty St. Louis and Claude Giroux were (unfairly, in my mind) left of Team Canada’s Sochi roster. Bolts Nation knows that Marty has been great for the Lightning all season, but it's worth mentioning that Giroux has been an absolute monster over the last month of so for the Flyers. Rick Nash, folks. Rick Nash, he of 19 points this season, took a spot from one of these guys.

One final note I’ll make in this short game preview is that Ondrej Palat is on fire right now. Having tallied at least one point in each of his last eight games, he is proving to be an offensive threat shift in and shift out. That eight game point scoring streak is a franchise record for rookies. Not half bad for a guy who was drafted in the 7th round in 2011, huh?

Don’t forget that today’s game is an afternoon contest. Hopefully it’s a good one.

As always, thanks for reading.

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