Confident Philadelphia Flyers take on the surging Tampa Bay Lightning – NHL Preview
Now with a guaranteed place in the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs this season, Philadelphia Flyers are feeling more confident.
A defeat now is not going to hurt Flyers, but they are determined to secure victories so as to end the regular season on winning note and carry the momentum into the playoffs.
As for Tampa Bay Lightning, the playoff chances are virtually gone, but they want to keep on trying as long as they are alive in the competition.
Both teams are going to face each other on Monday, March 26, 2012, at Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Let’s have a look at both teams.
Flyers
They are ranked at fifth spot in the Eastern Conference with 96 points after 75 games. They have seven more games to play in the regular season.
At present, Flyers are on a two-game winning streak with the victories coming against Washington Capitals (2-1 after shootout) and Montreal Canadiens (4-1).
In their last game, Flyers scored a goal in the first period and added two in the second where they also conceded one goal. In the final period, Flyers scored another goal to seal the victory.
Flyers’ coach, Peter Laviolette, said of goaltender, Ilya Bryzgalov, who made 23 saves in the game:
"He seems really confident, big in the net, he's there before the shot comes and he's set up. He's a big guy and he's like a wall right now. Our guys feed off that a little bit. He's been a big part of why we've had a good March.
Lightning
They are ranked at 11th spot in the Eastern Conference with 75 points after 74 games and are nine points behind the eighth-ranked Washington Capitals.
They are currently on a two-game winning streak with the victories coming against Edmonton Oilers (3-2 after shootout) and New York Islanders (4-3).
In their last game, Lightning took a lead in the first period and doubled it early in the second. Islanders, however, got two goals in the same period and scored another in the final to take the lead.
Lightning scored twice in the final period to win the game.
Predictions
Flyers have an edge.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might be six or more.
If Lightning win, the winning margin will be less than two goals.
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