The Lightning are set to continue their five game home stand tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers. Fresh off a less than inspiring victory over the Ottawa Senators, the Lightning are going to need a much better effort tonight if they have any desire to walk away with two points. Sitting with three wins through four games, the Bolts have a chance to get the season started on a bit of a roll against a Flyers team full of question marks.

In the first of three meetings this season, the Lightning and Flyers will both be looking to build on two game winning streaks. After a shaky start to the season, things seem to be coming together for the Flyers. Just last night, they absolutely dominated the Florida Panthers in a 7-1 victory. The offensive guns were firing, the defense was solid, and Ilya Bryzgalov looked like the number one goaltender Flyers fans expect him to be. To be frank, if the Flyers get that sort of performance from everyone tonight, the Lightning are going to need a perfect game to even have a chance at two points.

With Claude Giroux, one of the most complete players in the game, the Flyers are going to pose a very unique challenge to the Lightning. Once again, the Bolts’ defense is going to be tasked with shutting down one of the most potent offenses in the league. Despite not having Scott Hartnell in the lineup, the Flyers still boast the aforementioned Giroux, a now healthy Danny Briere and young scoring sensation Matt Read. What will it take for the Lightning to shut down this group? The Bolts need a much better effort than the one given against the Senators.

Unfortunately, the Bolts’ defense has struggled in recent games as a result of players not moving their feet. Guy Boucher needs to get the team’s defensemen skating, rather than reaching. On too many occasions, guys have been caught out of position. The Lightning D can’t continue to have this happen as it results in great scoring chances for opposing teams. With the Flyers’ speed up front, the Bolts are going to need a very good defensive performance. It’s going to take a complete effort from everyone to get the job done.

That being said - like the Flyers, the Bolt will ice an incredibly dangerous lineup. Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis and rookie Cory Conacher have all had great starts to the season. Given the Flyers’ recent goaltending struggles and the fact that their defense has been depleted thanks to injuries and free agent departures, look for the Bolts’ offensive guns to get serious ice time as Guy Boucher looks to outrun the Flyers and their goal scoring prowess.

After such an inconsistent start to the season for both groups, it’s hard to really predict just what kind of game to expect. Will Anders Lindback rebound after a shaky performance against the Senators? Can Leighton come in and put up an NHL caliber performance? There’re a lot of questions that nobody can answer at this point.

As hinted above, Anders Lindback will get the start in net after a shaky performance in the Bolts’ last game against the Senators. In his three starts this season, he has been solid but underwhelming. Moving forward, he is going to need to start putting together strings of good performances that inspire confidence in his team. Will it start tonight? That’s the big question plaguing the minds of Lightning fans near and far.

All Bolts Nation needs to know is that, contrary to what the stats and standings might tell you, this Flyers team is one of the most dangerous in the league. With so many great players both young and old on the Flyers roster, this is not the time for the Bolts to take the foot off the gas. It’s going to take a full team effort and much better team defense for the Lightning to grab two points in this one.

As always, thanks for reading.

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