Flyers try to end long Tampa skid; Voracek to be examined

TAMPA, Fla. _ The last time the Flyers won a game in Tampa, their goal scorers were James van Riemsdyk, Scott Hartnell and Darroll Powe, and their goalie was Brian Boucher.

Yeah, it's been a while. Five years, in fact.

The Flyers have lost eight straight in Tampa since that 4-3 victory, which was decided on Kimmo Timonen's shootout goal in the seventh shootout round. Claude Giroux is the only player who played in that 2011 game who is still with the Flyers.

The teams will meet Friday night at Amalie Arena at 7:30.

The Flyers are three points behind the Penguins and four points behind Detroit in the battle for the last two wild-card spots.

"The part that we control is our readiness, our preparation and the way we play," said Flyers coach Dave Hakstol, whose surging team has 17 games remaining.

Detroit overcame a 2-0 deficit Thursday and rallied past visiting Winnipeg, 3-2. The Flyers have two games in hand on the Red Wings, and one on the Penguins. They play those teams a combined five more times.

At its practice Thursday, Tampa experimented with a five-forward power-play unit. Tampa coach Jon Cooper told reporters he wasn't sure if he would use the alignment against the Flyers.

Despite all its firepower, Tampa is tied for 25th out of 30 teams on the power play, clicking at 16.7 percent. (The Flyers are 16th, at 18.3 percent.)

Tampa is in an 0 for 13 PP funk.

The Lightning will be trying to avenge Monday's 4-2 loss at the Wells Fargo Center, a game in which the Flyers had a 40-18 shots domination.

"We're going to be ready for their best, and we're going to give it our best and play within our structure," right winger Wayne Simmonds said.

Goalie matchup. Steve Mason (15-15-7, 2.61 GAA, .916 save percentage) will make his third straight start for the Flyers, who are on a 7-2-1 run. Mason's career numbers vs. the Lightning: 2-3-2, 2.84, .875.

Ben Bishop (28-17-4, 2.04, .927) will start for the Lightning. Bishop has a league's best GAA and has allowed a combined 10 goals in his last seven starts.

In four career appearances against the Flyers, Bishop is 2-1, with a no-decision, a 2.76 GAA and .905 save percentage.

Voracek update. Star winger Jake Voracek, who tonight will miss his sixth game because of a foot injury, will be examined in Philadelphia on Saturday "and hopefully we'll know something," general manager Ron Hextall said.

Hextall said he hopes to find out if Voracek "can push to the next level."

Best-case scenario: Voracek is able to skate Sunday and is ready for Tuesday's key game against visiting Detroit.

Ghost going home. Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, a Florida native, will have 12 relatives and friends at Friday's game, including his parents, his grandfather, an aunt, uncle and cousin.

Gostisbehere's real homecoming will be Saturday, when the Flyers play the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla. He grew up down the road from the arena and saw more than 100 games there.

Gostisbehere leads all rookie defensemen in scoring (37 points in 47 games) and is fifth overall among rookies despite playing as many as 21 games fewer than those in front of him.

Breakaways. Tampa may get former Flyer Braydon Coburn (lower-body injury) and Anton Stralman (illness) back on its defense. They will be game-time decisions.....The Flyers are 1-0-1 vs. the Lightning this season; they dropped a 3-2 OT decision in the Oct. 8 opener in Tampa....Sean Couturier has 18 points and is plus-9 in his last 21 games....Claude Giroux has 28 points in his last 24 games....Tonight is the Flyers' first road game since Feb. 23, a 3-1 loss in Carolina. They are 13-14-4 on the road; Tampa is 21-10-3 at home.