Game Seventy-Six : Boston Bruins (43-25-8) at Tampa Bay Lightning (47-22-6)

Time: 5:00 PM EST

Location: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa – where the first commercial flight (St. Pete to Tampa) was flown by Antony Habersack Jannus on the Benoist XIV. It lasted 23 minutes.

TV/Stream/Radio: The Spot, NESNPluse, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -185

Know the Opponents: Stanley Cup of Chowder

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s season-long seven game home stand finally draws to a close with an early evening contest against the Boston Bruins. It’s been a productive stretch of play with the Bolts picking up nine points on a 4-1-1 record, and claw their way back to the top of the Atlantic Division standings. Their play has improved as the games have gone along with their two best games coming in the loss to Montreal and the win against Pittsburgh.

With just seven games to go in the regular season, they are working on getting their game into playoff form, and their last two outings were good indications that on the defensive side, things are going pretty well. Yes, they lost 4-1 to Montreal, but that was a 2-1 game for most of the night, and it took every thing the Canadiens had to hold them off in the third period. Outside of a wobbly few minutes in the second period, the win against Pittsburgh was as complete of an effort as they’ve put out all year.

Now that they’re back on top of things, a gauntlet of contests kicks off with the not-quite-a-rival Boston Bruins. Over the next six games, the Lightning are facing teams that are either in the playoffs or right on the edge. The two marquee games are Monday’s game against Buffalo and Thursday’s game in Montreal, but they can’t afford to overlook the Bruins, who they play twice in the next week.

Boston is a very solid hockey team. They might not quite have the star power they’ve had in the past, but they still have the best winger not named Nikita Kucherov in David Pastrnak, 34-goal scorer Morgan Geekie, Pavel Zacha (60 points), and Victor Arvidsson (50). Are they a super sexy team? No, but they are a really good one and it will be a tough game for the Lightning (also with a little chip on their shoulder after the way the Stadium Series Game ended with the waved off goal).

Over their last ten games the Bruins are 6-2-2 and have allowed just 1.97 GA/60 at even strength. Two of their losses have come to Toronto and Florida, so that probably sticks in their teeth like a piece of spinach a bit, but they still managed to pretty much lock in a playoff spot. They enter the game with 94 points, firmly in the top Wild Card spot with a six-point lead over Ottawa and Detroit. They are running out of games to catch Montreal (98 points) and, unlike the Lightning, they are pretty much done with their division schedule. Their only games against the Atlantic are tonight’s game in Tampa and next Saturday when they host the Lightning.

Boston hasn’t been as good on the road as they’ve been at home as they are 15-15-7 away from home. Over the last month they’ve been allowing 2.64 GA/60 at 5v5 and their scoring dips to 2.50 GF/60. They’ve also struggled with their road special teams over the last month with their power play at 20.7% and penalty kill at 73.9%. Perhaps they can help out a Lightning power play that is at 18.5% in their last 9 home games.

As of press time, Brandon Hagel’s for the game is unknown. If he does cycle back into the line-up, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Coach Cooper keep Nikita Kucherov up on a line with Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point. That trio was reunited and generated a team-high 13 scoring chances against the Penguins, and were on the ice for two goals.

Point had been in a bit of a quiet goal drought with just one tally in his last 12 games, and that came on the power play. Prior to scoring his 18th goal of the season on Thursday, his last even-strength goal came on 8-7 loss to Buffalo on March 8th. Reuniting him with Kurcherov for a few games might get him back on track and ready for the playoffs.

The Lightning have a chance to punch their own ticket to the playoffs with a win tonight. Yes, there are other scenarios that can play out tonight that get them there, but there is always something nice about earning a post-season berth with a win. Boston is going to give them some trouble, but if the Lightning play the way they’ve been playing of late, they can pull off the win.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:

Jake GuentzelBrayden PointNikita KucherovBrandon Hagel (?)Anthony CirelliGage GoncalvesZemgus GirgensonsYanni GourdePontus HolmbergCorey PerryNick PaulOliver Bjorkstrand

Defense:

J.J. MoserDarren RaddyshRyan McDonaghErik CernakCharle-Edouard D’AstousEmil Lilleberg

Goaltenders:

Andrei VasilevskiyJonas Johansson

Boston Bruins

Forwards:

Marat KhushnutdinovFraser MintonDavid PastrnakCasey MittelstadtPavel ZachaViktor ArvidssonLukas ReichelElias LindholmMorgan GeekieTanner JeannotSean KuralyMark Kastelic

Defense:

Jonathan AspirotCharlie McAvoyHampus LindholmHenri JokiharjuNikita ZadorovAndrew Peeke

Goaltenders:

Jeremy SwaymanJoonas Korpisalo