Just over a week ago, the Philadelphia Flyers were riding high and sitting atop of the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division standings, but a string of injuries and some poor play lately has helped the Flyers drop three of their last four games and into second place behind their rival the New York Rangers.
Philadelphia (21-9-4, 46 points) looks to get back on track Monday, as it travels to play the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning (14-17-3, 31 points) at the St. Pete Times Forum in St. Petersburgh, FL (7:30 p.m. ET on COMCAST). The Lightning are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games, but have had success against the Flyers this season going 2-0-1 in three contests, including a 2-1 overtime victory at the Forum, Nov. 9.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia is less than a week away from hosting the Rangers in a much anticipated 2012 Winter Classic, Jan. 2, at Citizen Bank Park. Center Claude Giroux enters the contest as the team's top scorer (17 goals) and leading point getter (43).
The Flyers could be without forward Danny Briere, who is recovering from a bruised hand that kept him out of Friday's game against the Rangers.
For more on Flyers hockey, visit the SB Nation blog Broad Street Hockey.