Top two in the Eastern Conference square off as the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Philadelphia Flyers
This is going to be one of the most interesting games of Tuesday as the top two in the Eastern Conference are up against each other with Tampa Bay Lighting to come up with a win and close the gap up front.
Both the teams have been scheduled to face each other four times during the course of season. Out of these four meetings, three have already taken place. Each of the three meetings has been won by Tampa Bay.
The first and the second games between the two sides were very tough and entertaining and saw the Tampa Bay Lightning win 3-2 and 8-7.
However, the most recent game between the two sides saw the Tampa Bay Lightning dominate the game against the Flyers and win the game 4-0 in the end.
Goal keeper of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dwayne Roloson did an excellent job at the back making 38 saves and ensuring that his team emerged as winners of the game.
Though the Philadelphia Flyers is the top team in the Eastern Conference but their performances against Tampa Bay Lightning haven’t been a reflection of the season they have had.
Flyers will be hoping to come up with a win against the Tampa Bay Lightning finally but things aren’t good for them ahead of the game as they lost their last game against the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 this past Saturday.
Tampa Bay Lightning on the other hand hasn’t been in the best of forms either. The problem with them isn’t that they aren’t able to score goals but it is that they fail to defend the lead in the final period. During the course of the last week, they led
the Buffalo Sabres going into the final period but gave up five goals in the final 20 minutes to lose the game in the end. In their last game against the Hurricanes they were leading 3-1 but allowed two goals in the final minute. However, they won the game
in overtime.
Marc- Andre Bergeron, defenseman of the Tampa Bay Lightning has been brilliant in the three games he has played for them. With some strong defence and good work in the middle he has regularly notched up goals for them and cut down attacks. He played a major
role in the final goal against the Hurricanes as they won the game 4-3 in overtime.
"I've seen him do that all last year," Lightning Coach Guy Boucher, who was with the Canadiens organization last season when Bergeron was in Montreal, told the St. Petersburg Times. "Big goals in big moments. I'm happy, but I'm not surprised."
Tampa Bay Lightning has played 56 games in the season so far out which they have won 34 games in regulation time, 5 games in overtime to score 73 points. Philadelphia Flyers on the other hand have played 55 games and won 36 games in regulation time, 5 games
in overtime scoring 77 points.
Though the Flyers are having problems up front to bag goals but they have still managed to pile up wins on a regular basis. Their lack of convertibility of chances saw them losing the game against the Kings 1-0.
"We haven't generated as many chances as I'd like," Laviolette said after the game. "It was more so just to give a different look and a different feel. We're just trying to attack more offensively."
Ahead of the game, Tampa Bay are definitely the favourites keeping in mind the fact that they are consistently scoring goals and have won all the previous games against the Flyers.
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