As the 2018 season draws closer, Bolts By The Bay will be breaking down the Tampa Bay Lightning’s notable matchups from around the league. Today, we look at the Philadelphia Flyers
The Eastern Conference team that everyone loves to hate regardless of how good they do or who they play, the Broad Street Bullies themselves. While they may not be one of the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s chief rivals, there is definitely no love lost between the two of them.
The Philadelphia Flyers have had a rough go of things lately as the last time they made the playoffs in 2016, they were eliminated in the first-round by the Washington Capitals. Their last trip to the playoffs before that was also a first-round exit, this time to the New York Rangers.
Known for fighting, hitting, and every other kind of physical contact (both legal and illegal) in the game of hockey, they are definitely a formidable team to face; especially if you’re not prepared for an incredibly physical game.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Reasons to like them:
There’s a lot of history behind the Flyers. They’ve been in the NHL since 1967 and in that time, they’ve been able to amass some of the most impressive rivalries of the entire league. Not only do they have a lot of rivalries, they have intense and storied rivalries.
Some even date back over 40 years. These games are always fun to watch, even if you don’t have a dog in the fight. Or if you hate the Flyers and want to cheer against them.
Their team is almost synonymous with old-time hockey. Like it or not, that will always be true. And as much as I love to hate them, if you want to get into watching old hockey, the Flyers are a great place to start.
Former Lightning enforcer Radko Gudas also plays for the Flyers now. If you want to relive the glory days of almost as many penalty minutes as time on ice, then you should check out a Flyers game this season and look for number 3.
Reasons to hate them:
When they play against your team, however, they’re pretty easy to hate. Reputation alone allows for this, they were called the Broad Street Bullies for a reason. Their reputation of a dirty and scrappy team will always follow them, regardless of how they play now.
This dates back to the team’s inception and they’ll never be able to shake it. Sometimes they still play like it and sometimes they don’t. It all depends on who they’re playing and when. While the Lightning isn’t one of their historical rivals, a scrappy game is easily possible between the two.
Analysis:
The Flyers’ biggest addition of the offseason was the signing of Brian Elliot. Steve Mason was consistently inconsistent for the Flyers. It’s hard to gain traction, much less make the playoffs without strong goaltending to back up your team.
The Flyers season will hinge on whether or not their goal scoring talent shows up on the ice for them this year. With names like Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds, and Jakob Vorachek, you’d think that scoring wouldn’t be a problem. However, Giroux had a less than productive season last year and has a lot to prove this year if he wants to remain one of the top centers in the league.
Last season, the Flyers won two of the three meetings with the Lightning. This season, that’ll flip with the Bolts bringing home 4 points from the City of Brotherly Love. Everything hinges on the play of Vorachek and Giroux.
Next: Tampa Bay Lightning TV Schedule released by Fox Sports
If they have breakout seasons and Elliot plays as good as he has in the past, things could change. As of right now, however, there’s no proof that anything will change for the Flyers. As all Tampa Bay Lightning fans know, high expectations mean nothing unless things actually go your way.