2. SAYING GOODBYE... AGAIN
The Flyers continue their five-game road trip, this time with a tour of the South (TBL-FLA-CAR-NSH)... The Flyers have earned points in three out of their last four games (3-1-0), including a 3-2 shootout win at NY Rangers to enter the break, with all four games decided by one goal... This is the second meeting of the season against Tampa with the first seeing a four-goal comeback in the third period by the Flyers to force overtime, eventually falling to Tampa, 6-5... All 11 goals were scored in the second & third period... The Flyers (15-16-4) sit eight points behind the final playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division, currently owned by the Penguins, which is the exact amount of points they were behind last season as they came out of the holiday break (15-13-8) - the Flyers went 27-13-6 after the break last season to earn the third spot in the Metro at 98 points.
3. BEAST MODE
The Tampa Bay Lightning come out of the holiday break as the leading team in the NHL with 28 wins and 58 points, including the best home record in the NHL at 15-4-0 and most goals scored (151)... Tampa is currently riding a 12-game streak where they are unbeaten in regulation, going 11-0-1... During that streak they recorded four or more goals 11 times, five or more goals eight times, and have averaged 4.92 goals per-game, while allowing 2.92 goals per-game.
4. PUT TO THE TEST
The Flyers penalty kill has been exceptional as of late, going perfect in their last three games and last 11 times shorthanded... They have also allowed just one power-play goal in their last 21 times shorthanded (20-for-21)... Since Nov. 23, the Flyers rank third in the NHL on the PK at 88.1 percent (37-for-42)... The Lightning come in with the NHL's best power play at 28.9 percent (37-for-128) and their 37 goals scored are tied for the most PPG (FLA) in the NHL... They have had nine multi power-play goals games this season, but have scored just once on the man advance in their last 10 opportunities over their last three games.
5. PLAYERS TO WATCH:
FLYERS (LW: #25 - James van Riemsdyk)
During the last four games, van Riemsdyk has four points (2g-2a) and has seven points (4g-3a) in his last nine contests... In the Flyers first meeting with Tampa, JVR had a three-point night with a goal and two assists... Overall, he has 15 goals against Tampa in his career, which is the most against any other NHL team, while his 26 points against the Lightning are second-most vs. another team in his career.
LIGHTNING (RW: #86 - Nikita Kucherov)
Since the Lightning's 12-game point streak started, Kucherov leads all NHL players in scoring by averaging two points per-game with 24 points (7g-17a) and has an eight game point streak (4g-11a--15pts)... He currently ranks second in the NHL's scoring race with 57 points and is tied for the NHL lead with 21 points on the power-play... He had two assists in the first meeting and has 10 points (2g-8a) in his last four games against the Flyers.
