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Flyers-Lightning preview: Another measuring stick

The Lightning's stop in Philadelphia will cap a four-game road trip. Tampa has won two in a row after a three-game losing streak.

Chris Kunitz (right) has scored in two consecutive Lightning games.
Chris Kunitz (right) has scored in two consecutive Lightning games.Read moreChris O'Meara / AP

Tampa Bay Lightning (33-12-3) at Flyers (24-16-8)

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Wells Fargo Center

BROADCAST & STREAMING: TV– NBCSP; radio–97.5 FM.

SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: Twitter, @BroadStBull @samdonnellon

KEY PLAYERS: Chris Kunitz has scored a goal in each of the last two Tampa games. Steven Stamkos' game-tying goal in the closing minutes of regulation Tuesday against Nashville was his 18th goal of the season and snapped a nine-game goal drought.  Vladislav Namestnikov halted a 13-game goal drought Tuesday night. Forward Brayden Point on Wednesday was named to the All-Star game, replacing injured teammate Victor Hedman on the Atlantic Division roster. When the Flyers defeated the Lightning on Dec. 29, Tampa's top goaltender, Andrei Vasilevskiy, did not start. He is expected to on Thursday. After a 2-0 shutout of Chicago on Monday night, Vasilevskiy has six road shutouts this season, a franchise record. In his previous five games before that outing, however, Vasilevskiy had allowed 23 goals. Rookie defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, 19, has eight goals and 27 points and is a plus-11 this season. He was a healthy scratch in Nashville on Tuesday night. In a surprise move, Flyers coach Dave Hakstol announced that Michal Neuvirth will start in goal against Tampa Bay. With two overtime winners in a row and 11 points in his last 13 games, Travis Konecny is red-hot. He has a four-game point streak with three goals and two assists and a plus-4 rating.

THINGS TO KNOW: The Lightning's stop in Philadelphia will conclude a four-game road trip. The Lightning also are coming off their own overtime victory on the road, a come-from-behind, 4-3 win over Nashville, and have won two in a row after a three-game losing streak. Tuesday's win was capped by Yanni Gourde's overtime goal. The Flyers have won eight of their last nine and four in a row, including the last two in overtime. Since a 10-game losing streak from Nov. 11-Dec. 2, they are 16-5-1 and have moved into a tie with the New Jersey Devils for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

HEAD TO HEAD: This is the second of three meetings between the teams this season. The Flyers defeated the Lightning, 5-3, on Dec. 29 in Tampa. The teams will meet again March 3 back in Tampa. The Flyers are 54-46-8 all-time against the Lightning, including a 27-18-7 record at home.

COMING GAMES:

(All-Star break)

Wednesday, Jan. 31: at Washington, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 1: at New Jersey, 7 p.m.