Lightning begin road swing by facing Flyers

LIGHTNING (6-2-0) at FLYERS (3-6-0)

TV: NBCSN, TSN, RDS, CSN-PH

Season series: This is the second of three meetings between the teams this season, and the only one in Philadelphia. On Jan. 27, Martin St. Louis had four assists and Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist in a 5-1 Lightning victory.

Big story: How will the Lightning handle their first extended road trip of the season? They start a four-game swing Tuesday at the Flyers.

Team Scope:

Lightning: Team captain Vincent Lecavalier says his left foot is sore, but far from sore enough to keep him out of the lineup.

Lecavalier was hit in the left ankle by a shot by teammate Sami Salo on Saturday, and he sat out Monday's practice, but told the Tampa Bay Times he would be in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Philadelphia.

"It's still pretty sore," he said. "But honestly, there's no thought of me not playing [Tuesday]."

Flyers: With Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds out of the lineup with injuries, the Flyers were looking everywhere to find someone to fill that void. Help appears to have come from an unexpected source -- rookie Tye McGinn.

A 2010 fourth-round pick, McGinn had 11 goals in 33 games with the Flyers' American Hockey League, the Adirondack Phantoms, and in six games with the Flyers, he has a goal and two assists. But more than his stats has been his presence -- literally -- in the offensive zone.

McGinn, who replaced Simmonds on the Flyers' top line Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes, twice provided screens that blocked Carolina goalie Dan Ellis from seeing Philadelphia goals get past him in a 5-3 win. With Simmonds out again Tuesday and Hartnell still a few weeks away from a return, McGinn has a nice opportunity to establish himself in the NHL.

"He's been terrific," coach Peter Laviolette said. "We said every day Tye has done well in practice and in games. He's a big guy out there that can get to the net, he can make plays, he's physical. He's done a really good job."

Who's hot: St. Louis had four points in his first game against the Flyers this season, and in 35 games against Philadelphia since the 2002-03 season, he has 40 assists and 52 points. … Flyers forward Matt Read has three points in his last two games and leads the team with seven points in nine games.

Injury report: Lecavalier is day-to-day with a bone bruise to his left foot. Tampa Bay teammate Brendan Mikkelson also is questionable for Tuesday's game. … The Flyers will be missing Hartnell (foot) and Simmonds (concussion), along with defenseman Andrej Meszaros (shoulder).