The Tampa Bay Lightning (19-17-4) travel to the Wells Fargo Center to take on the Philadelphia Flyers (20-15-15) Saturday afternoon. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.
The Lightning and the Flyers have already played two times this season, once in Philadelphia and once in Tampa Bay. Thus far, the Bolts have gotten the better of Philly beating them on both occasions.
Lightning Outlook
Tampa Bay is coming off a five-game homestand where they posted a mediocre record of 2-2-1. The Bolts their string of five games at the Amalie Arena hot, getting points in the first three games. However, the team lost rather decisively in the last two contests to the Winnipeg Jets and the Nashville Predators.
Now on a two-game losing streak, the Lightning will look to turn things around quickly. Luckily, no other team in the Atlantic Division has been able to separate themselves from the crowd and gain a strong hold on a playoff position. Tampa is very much in the playoff race with half a season still to be played.
Although the postseason is still the Bolts' goal, some concern is starting to set in as to whether or not this team has what it takes to be one of the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference this season. The defense has looked shaky at best and Andrei Vasilevskiy is starting to see his production slip a little.
You can bet that if the Lightning cannot start to turn things around this weekend, Steve Yzerman will look to make some changes before things completely hit rock bottom. Unfortunately, the road has not been kind to Tampa so far, as they are 8-10-2 away from home this season.
Flyers Outlook
Philadelphia is another team looking for a resurgence. After winning ten in a row, they have lost five straight contests and seven of their last eight games.
The Flyers still hold the second wild card position but other teams such as the Lightning and the Maple Leafs are creeping closer. Philadelphia is 12-6-3 at home this season.
Comparison
The Lightning will once again face a pretty even matchup when the take on the Flyers on Saturday afternoon. Both offenses have been just as productive as the other so far this season. The two teams have each scored 2.85 goals per game.
When it comes to defense, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia have had their struggles. The Bolts have slightly better numbers allowing 2.79 goals per game opposed to the Flyers 3.03.
In regards to special teams, the Lightning boast a better power play. However, the Flyers have a slightly better penalty kill.
In all honesty, this is a game that both teams need to win desperately. If the Lightning can pull off the victory, they will be within one point of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. With the team's recent issues, the Bolts are lucky to still be in this position.
If Tampa Bay fails to acquire at least a point in Philadelphia, Jon Cooper's seat as the Lightning's head coach could start to get quite warm.