Under a new coach in former University of North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol, the Flyers are optimistic that they’re bound to be better after missing the playoffs with just 84 points. A win over a legitimate Cup contender like the Tampa Bay Lightning sure sounds like a great start for the Flyers, but that’s going to be easier said than done. Can the Flyers get off on the right foot? Or will Steven Stamkos and the Lightning prove to be too much to handle for Claude Giroux and company?
[sc:NHLArticles ]Philadelphia Flyers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa
When: Thursday, October 8, 2015 7:30 PM ET
Line: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning – view all NHL lines
Betting on the Philadelphia Flyers
[sc:NHL240 ]Philly’s first game of the season is not an easy one. Up against the defending Eastern Conference champion, Tampa Bay, on the road, the Flyers will have the perfect opportunity to see how far they’ve improved since missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.
The Flyers’ defense will be under the microscope in this game. Last season, Philadelphia ranked just 21st in goals allowed per game (2.7) and 23rd in shots against (30.3). If that trend continues, the Flyers will likely succumb to Tampa Bay’s offense that was first in goals last season with 3.2 per contest. Hopefully for the Flyers, goalie Steve Mason and Philadelphia’s blue line would be able to keep the Bolts in check. In other words, Mason has to remain solid between the pipes following a season in which he finished third in save percentage (.928) and seventh in GAA (2.25).
Mason could only do so much, so he’s going to need the likes of Michael Del Zotto and Mark Streit to stop playing like a waste of money on the Flyers’ payroll. Last season, Del Zotto finished with a -5 plus/minus while Streit had -8.
When it comes to offense, Philadelphia will be led by a terrific top line that features Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek, who scored 25 and 22 goals, respectively, last season. Wayne Simmonds, who led the Flyers with 28 goals in 2014-15, meanwhile, props up a second line that also has Sean Couturier and Michael Raffl. It would be a big boost for the Flyers, too, if Sam Gagner and Vincent Lecavalier can provide the depth needed to matchup better against the Bolts.
The under is 3-1 in Philadelphia’s last four road games.
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Betting on the Tampa Bay Lightning
With basically the same lineup they had last season, the Lightning are ready to begin plotting their way back to the Stanley Cup Final.
Everything for the Bolts begins and ends in their face-melting offense that, as mentioned, was the best in the NHL last season in terms of scoring. Steven Stamkos led the Lightning in goals (43) and points (72) in their 2014-15 campaign, but his performance was arguably overshadowed by the rapid maturation of Tampa Bay’s second line AKA The Triplets, composed of Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, and Nikita Kucherov. Together, the trio produced 199 points last season. All these firepower should be a collective headache for Philadelphia’s susceptible defense.
Tampa Bay, however, is not just all about embarrassing opposing goalies. This team could also stifle opponents’ attacks, as evidenced by Tampa Bay’s 12th ranked 2.51 GA/G last season. Netminder Ben Bishop had a career-high o40 wins in 2014-15—second most in the NHL. But then again, Bishop was a beneficiary of the Lightning’s stout offense that compensated for his middling 2.32 GAA and .916 SV%.
In front of Bishop, meanwhile, is an excellent cast of defensemen that includes Jason Garrison, Anton Stralman, and Victor Hedman. Garrison topped all defensemen last season with a +27 plus/minus, while Stralman was seventh with 22. However, it was Hedman, who turned the most heads, as he had 10 goals and 18 assists in just 59 games.
Writer’s Prediction
Tampa Bay wins, 4-2.
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