Flyers Vs. Lightning: Battle Down the Middle, Intriguing for Team Canada

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

Tonight, the Philadelphia Flyers host the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Wachovia Center at 5:00 PM EST. The early start is an oddity, but a necessity as it will allow Philadelphia Phillies fans to escape in time to watch game five of the World Series.

The Flyers are coming off a 5-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, a game in which seemingly everything went right for the Orange and Black.

Through 11 games, the Flyers sit at 6-4-1 on the season and, for the most part, have played some great hockey. That said, there are a couple of areas that could use a shot in the arm. One such area is team defense, where the Flyers have struggled to be consistent.

Defensemen Braydon Coburn and Kimmo Timonen both have a minus-eight rating on the season and have struggled to put together three solid periods. Both of these players have had a positive impact on the Flyers offense, but in order to be successful the Flyers need Coburn and Timonen to simplify their game and make a concerted effort to play tough defense in their own zone.

Up front, tonight’s match will feature four centres that have a legitimate shot at being members of Team Canada at the 2010 Olympics. For Tampa, that means Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos, for the Flyers, we are talking about Jeff Carter and Mike Richards.

Stamkos is having a break-out year. Stammer leads the Lightning with 10 goals and five assists and his five power play goals ties him for the NHL lead with San Jose Sharks sniper Danny Heatley and the Minnesota Wild’s Andrew Brunette.

Stamkos spent a lot of time training with former teammate Gary Roberts and is rumored to have put on in excess of 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason. Clearly, Stamkos’ hard work and dedication is paying off as he is quickly establishing himself as an elite NHL player.

Lecavalier has seen his star dim in Tampa. Through 11 games, Lecavalier has just one goal and nine assists, hardly what the Lightning expect from a player that brings with him a cap hit that approaches $8.0 million mark.

Lecavalier has put up some disturbing numbers this season. He has a minus-five rating, no goals on the power play and a shooting percentage of 2.4 percent, clearly Lecavalier is struggling, so much so that it may cost him a chance to represent Canada at the 2010 Olympics.

The Flyers feature the Dynamic Duo of Richards and Carter down the middle. Richards’ six goals leads the team and his 12 points ties him with defenseman Matt Carle for the team lead. Richards brings a tough physical game and a tremendous work ethic, which makes him a favorite for Team Canada.

Carter, will likely play against Lecavalier. Somehow, you just know that Carter wants to get the better of that battle, which may go a long way in further solidifying his chances to make Team Canada.

Through 11 games, Carter has four goals and 11 points. His scoring abilities are well documented, but he also brings a tenacity that is second to none, something Lecavalier is going to find out about in tonight's match.

It will be interesting to see how Richards and Stamkos battle it out on the ice tonight. For Richards, it’s another test of his fortitude, for Stamkos it is an opportunity to show off his skill set and, if he can win the head-to-head battle tonight, it may very well lead to a Lightning win and help solidify his chances of making Team Canada.

Clearly, the stakes are large...

On the injury front, the Lightning are free and clear, while the Flyers will be without forwards Blair Betts (out with a shoulder injury) and Simon Gagne and Daniel Briere  (both players are out with groin injuries). Flyers defenseman Ryan Parent is also questionable.

Former Flyer Steve Downie, who has a reputation for dishing out some big hits, will be on the ice tonight for the Lightning, so the Flyers forwards will have to keep their heads up.

Despite an impressive 2-1-1 record, 2.22 GAA and .931 SV%, ex-Flyers goaltender Antero Niittymaki will be on the bench, as Mike Smith will get the go-ahead in net for the Lightning.

Could tonight’s match be the beginning of some bad blood? I think it very well may be, so don’t miss it!

Until next time,

Peace!