Flyers Vs. Tampa Preview: A Battle For First In The East

The Flyers are back in action today for their final round-robin game as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at 8:00pm on NBC Sports, and other major outlets. They will look to capture the first seed for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Final Playoff Seeding

No matter what happens Saturday, #Flyers cannot play Pittsburgh (if it advances) or Carolina in the opening playoff round.

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) August 7, 2020

If the Flyers lose, they clinch the number two seed for the playoffs and play the winner of the Columbus Blue Jackets or Toronto Maple Leafs. With a win they will play the Montreal Canadiens. 

Key Players For Flyers

Scott Laughton, Kevin Hayes, Travis Konecny.

The line with Hayes, Laughton, and Konecny was on fire in the game versus the Capitals and has been all season. They will all look to continue their dominance today.

Scott Laughton has been one of the Flyers biggest breakout players this season and it has really shown so far during these few round-robin matchups. He has three goals and one assist for four total points in two round-robin games. 

AV on the Laughton-Hayes-TK line:

"They’re certainly, without a doubt, our best line at this moment. I think offensively and defensively tonight, this was their best night." #Flyers

— Jamey Baskow (@JameyBaskow) August 7, 2020

Key Players for Lightning

Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov

Point and Kucherov are two of the Lightning’s best players. Point has scored two goals and one assist and Kucherov also has scored two goals one assist during the round-robin matchups. They work well together and the Flyers will need to play tight defensive when they are out on the ice.

Notes

The Lightning will be without their capitan once again, Steven Stamkos, as he has been rehabbing from an injury and it seems he will be out indefinitely. Although, even without Stamkos, the Lightning have a winning round-robin record of 2-0. 

Carter Hart vs. Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy on Saturday. Time TBD. Let's hope the time is announced before tonight so players can get mentally ready and fans can make Sat. plans. #Flyers

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) August 7, 2020

Carter Hart will start for the Flyers and Andrei Vasilevskiy will start for the Lightning. 

Lineup changes for Saturday vs. Tampa:

JVR will be back in the lineup. He will join Grant and NAK’s line.

Farabee will skate with Giroux and Couturier.

Ghost enters the lineup and will be paired with Braun.

Voracek will not be available to play.

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) August 7, 2020

Joel Farabee will play a big role filling in for Jake Voracek who is out for an unknown reason. 

Projected Line Pairings

Giroux-Couturier-Farabee

Laughton-Hayes-Konecny 

Van Riemsdyk- Grant- Aubé-Kubel

Bunnaman-Thompson-Pitlick

Provorov-Niskanen 

Sanheim-Myers

Gostisbehere-Braun

Hart

What the Flyers need to focus on

Focus on a clean breakout on even-strength and powerplay.

Get pucks on net, especially on the powerplay. 

Shut down the Lightning’s top players.