Eastern Conference Round Robin: Flyers @ Lightning — Game thread, rosters, lines, and how to watch

Eastern Conference Round Robin

Philadelphia Flyers @ Tampa Bay Lightning

How to watch

Start time: 8:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM PDT
In Canada: Sportsnet One, Sportsnet 360 (English), TVA Sports (French)
In the US: NBC
Streaming: Sportsnet Now

The Montreal Canadiens did what few people expected in the qualifiers by knocking off the Pittsburgh Penguins, in four games no less, to advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 24th-place team from the regular season is now one of the 16 finalists that will play for the NHL championship.

There is no big reward for pulling off the upset — as there shouldn’t be for the lowest-ranked team in the tournament. While Montreal was taking care of the Penguins, the top four sqauds from the Eastern Conference were playing each other to determine which club is the cream of the crop, and the Habs will face the one that takes that title.

View from the Other Side

Philadelphia Flyers blog Broad Street Hockey

View from the Other Side

Tampa Bay Lightning blog Raw Charge

That number-one seed in the east will be determined in a showdown between the Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night. Both have already dispatched the Washington Capitals and Presidents’ Trophy-winning Boston Bruins, and whichever one prevails will be riding into the playoffs on a winning streak after sweeping through three of the top six teams in the NHL this year.

The story of the round robin so far has been the play of Scott Laughton and Kevin Hayes, both with four points as members of Philadelphia’s second line. It’s more a tale of woe for the Lightning, as Steven Stamkos is once more out of action with an injury, which hasn’t been an uncommon report in recent years. The club has learned how to play without its captain in the mix, and has amassed some depth to cope with his absence.

Steady goaltending, solid defence, and talented forward corps should be on offer from both teams tonight, and Canadiens fans will get a good indication of what they’re in store for in the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals.

Philadelphia Flyers projected lineup

Tampa Bay Lightning projected lineup