Bruins at Lightning
THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins were a goal apart in the seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals last season. Seven months later, there is quite a gap. The Lightning have lost seven straight, falling to the bottom of the conference, and the Stanley Cup champion Bruins are 26-5-1 since a slow start to stand second in the East. The teams meet for the second time this season Tuesday in Tampa. The Bruins won the first battle 4-1 on Oct. 8 in Boston and have triumphed in four of the last five in the regular season against the Lightning. The Bruins are at the top of NHL in goals for and goals against. The Lightning are last in goals against (3.48) per game.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), SunSports (Tampa Bay)
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (17-23-4): Tampa Bay have been outscored 10-1 in the first period of the last four games and has allowed more first-period goals than any other team (54). Goalies Dwayne Roloson and Mathieu Garon have given up 30 goals in the last seven games as the Lightning continue to play without injured Victor Hedman (concussion) and Mattias Ohlund (knee), two of the team’s top three defensemen. Steven Stamkos climbed within two points on the NHL scoring lead through Sunday with 50.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (29-12-1): Patrice Bergeron always does strong work on the defensive end, but the center has been an offensive standout of late. Bergeron boasts seven goals and four assists in the last seven games. Bergeron scored twice and converted in the shootout in the 3-2 victory over Florida on Monday. Tyler Seguin, who leads the team with 41 points, had a pair of assists against the Panthers. David Krejci saw his NHL-best 11-game point streak end, but had the shootout winner Monday. Tim Thomas is 11-4 lifetime against the Lightning.
OVERTIME:
1. Tampa Bay has scored power-play goals in consecutive games for the first time in more than a month.
2. Boston is 5-5-0 against the Southeast Division this season.
3. The Lightning has given up hat tricks in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.