For the Philadelphia Flyers what was looking like a lost season has instead been jumpstarted after the firing of head coach Dave Hakstol. Hakstol was fired on December 17 after an uninspired four game Western Canadian road trip in which the Flyers went winless. Scott Gordon was called up from the minors to take Hakstol’s place and to try and save the season. Gordon led the Flyers to a pair of wins in his first three games but major challenges remain. Among those challenges is the first game after Christmas break at the explosive Tampa Bay Lightning.
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Philadelphia Flyers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Date and Time:Thursday, December 27 2018, 7:30 p.m. ET
Location:Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
NHL Betting Online Odds at Bookmaker.eu:Check Back Later
Flyers vs. Lightning TV Coverage: NBCSN
Odds Analysis
Betting action will be heavy on the Lightning due to their status as a perennial top tier contender in the Eastern Conference and the Flyers status as one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference so far. More savvy NHL bettors will certainly note the contrast of the high scoring Lightning going up against a Philadelphia team has is among the worst in hockey for goals against.
Current Form
Philadelphia has a record of 14-16-4 and is 20-14 over the total. As a result, the Flyers are in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division. Philadelphia has a road record of 7-8-2 with 11-6 over the total on enemy ice. After winning their first two games for Scott Gordon the Flyers lost the next game 4-3 at home to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Philly has lost five of their last seven games with four of their last five matchups going under the total.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are 28-7-2 with 21-14-2 over the total. At Amalie Arena the Lighting are 15-4 with 9-8-2 on totals. The Lighting lead the second place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division standings. Tampa Bay is hot with nine wins in their last 10 games and six of their last seven games going over the total.
Matchup Metrics
Tampa Bay is the highest scoring team in the NHL and also has the league’s top ranked power play. The Bolts rank 13th in the NHL for goals against and seventh for the penalty kill.
Philadelphia ranks 18th in the NHL for goal scoring and dead last for the power play. The Flyers rank next to last for goals against and 28th for the penalty kill. Among the many problems Gordon must fix first includes the Flyers terrible back end and goaltending.
Goaltending Report
Due to numerous injury problems the Flyers have played a total of six different goaltenders so far on the season. Number one goaltender Brian Elliott remains out until mid-January. Carter Hart, the 20-year-old top goaltending prospect, was called up from the American Hockey League the same day that Gordon was hired. Hart has a .904 save percentage with a 2.36 goals against average.
For Tampa Bay Andrei Vasilevskiy has a .928 save percentage and a 2.39 goals against average with one shutout and a record of 12-3-2. Louis Domingue has a .904 save percentage with a 2.99 GAA.
Players to Watch
Tampa Bay right wing Nikita Kucherov leads the team in scoring with 16 goals, 41 assists and a plus ten. Lightning center and team captain Steven Stamkos has 20 goals, 19 assists and a minus three. Center Brayden Point has 21 goals, 26 assists with a plus 13.
The Flyers are led by left wing Claude Giroux and his 12 goals, 30 assists with a plus four.
Free NHL Live Betting Odds Pick
Tampa Bay should overwhelm Tampa Bay in what looks to be a mismatch. The Lighting have won their last three against the Flyers.
NHL Live Betting Odds Picks: Tampa Bay Lighting
NHL Score Prediction: Lighting 4, Flyers 2
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