Bruins at Lightning
THE STORY: The Boston Bruins are struggling to win games and stay
healthy. The Bruins have two games in hand, but lead the Ottawa
Senators by only two points in the Northeast Division after dropping
four of their last six. Center Patrice Bergeron left Sunday’s game after
blocking a shot with his left foot, joining a big group of injured
Bruins. The Tampa Bay Lightning, who host the Bruins on Tuesday, are
desperate after losing three straight to fall seven points from a
playoff spot.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NESN (Bruins), SunSports (Lightning)
ABOUT THE BRUINS (40-25-3):
Aside from Bergeron, rookie Max Sauve, Adam McQuaid and Johnny Boychuk
all left Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. Boychuk was the only one who
returned. The Bruins did get defenseman Andrew Ference back from injury
against the Penguins. The Tyler Seguin-David Krejci-Milan Lucic line is
trying to carry Boston. Lucic has a seven-game point streak, Krejci has
seven goals in seven games and Seguin leads the team with 57 points. Tim
Thomas has played nine straight games in goal. Veteran Marty Turco
replaced him the final two periods Sunday.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (31-30-7):
Tampa Bay was two points out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference a
week ago. An injury to goaltender Mathieu Garon, two home losses and an
overtime defeat at the Washington Capitals have taken steam out of a
Lightning run. Tampa Bay does play the next six at home, where it is
20-11-2. Steven Stamkos has 82 points, two behind Evgeni Malkin for the
league lead. Martin St. Louis averaged more than 27 minutes the last
five games. Ryan Malone is on a six-game point streak, one shy of his
career high. Rookie Dustin Tokarski is expected to play in goal.
OVERTIME:
1. The Bruins have allowed the first goal in the last five games and eight of the last 10.
2. Tampa Bay has been better on the power play the last 10 games, going 10 for 35.
3. Boston leads the league in face-off percentage (54.5).