Flyers vs Lightning March 12 Betting Preview: Can Philadelphia (+125) Rebound After First Loss in 10 Games?

• The Philadelphia Flyers (41-21-7) face the Tampa Bay Lightning (43-21-6) Thursday night
• Can the Flyers rebound after losing their first game since falling to the Lightning February 15th
• Here’s the case why Philadelphia could be a very good value play as an underdog in this Eastern Conference matchup

Two elite teams separated by only three points in the standings face off Tuesday night when the Philadelphia Flyers meet the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Flyers vs Lightning Odds

Odds taken Mar. 11.

Both teams may be elite in the big picture, but the Flyers are in much better form coming in. The fact you can bet Philadelphia as an underdog is a blessing you need to take advantage of for several key reasons.

Recent Streaks Favor the Underdog

What have you done for me lately? The Flyers have done a lot, the Lightning have done just about nothing. Philadelphia had won nine-straight games before falling to the NHL’s best club the Boston Bruins in their last game. Tampa on the other hand? They have only three wins in their last 10 games, including a loss to the league-worst Detroit Red Wings.

Lots of reasons to be smiling at @WellsFargoCtr for picture day. #NowOrNever pic.twitter.com/q5HscFTzJ3

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 9, 2020

While streaks don’t always mean anything, I much prefer taking the team that seems to be hitting its stride at the perfect time.

Flyers Depth Proving to Be Major Asset

For years the Flyers offense has gone only as far as Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek have been able to take them. Things have changed this year in a big way and it’s leading to victories. Travis Konecny, Sean Couturier and Kevin Hayes are the top three goal scorers on the team, with Giroux and Voracek right behind them. Giving other teams multiple lines to deal with has proved to be a major advantage for Philadelphia.

Beard League Hockey. #BOSvsPHI | #NowOrNever pic.twitter.com/Y5FDyA6u8Q

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 10, 2020

The Flyers did get some bad news that Nate Thompson will miss time with an injury but he’s a depth player who would be unlikely to have a major impact on the game. As long as the top five forwards are dressed for Philadelphia, I like their depth to win the day.

Injuries Mounting at a Bad Time for Tampa Bay

Steven Stamkos is out for the foreseeable future after undergoing surgery to repair a core muscle and if that was the only loss Tampa Bay might have been able to survive. But for the last two games, both losses, star defenseman Victor Hedman has also been out of the lineup.

On Stamkos’ surgery: “It all went well and now it’s just recovery mode. Nothing’s changed in his timeline other than the fact that now [the surgery] is over.”#BOSvsTBL | Jon Cooper: pic.twitter.com/ddHnRwYNW3

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 3, 2020

The good news for the Lightning is they still have award winners like Andrei Vasilevskiy and Nikita Kucherov playing. The bad news is their great secondary scorers and defenceman are being pushed up the lineup, creating a lack of depth.

Game Means More to Philadelphia

Tampa Bay certainly seems to be in the mode where they want to focus on getting healthy and providing deadline acquisitions Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman opportunities to get comfortable. Beyond that, there’s little at play for the Lightning who seem assured of the second spot in the Atlantic and home ice in the first round.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, has a chance to win their division, currently sitting only one point back of the Washington Capitals for top spot. Bet the more desperate team and take them on the money line.

Pick: Philadelphia Flyers (+125)