Bruins at Lightning
The Boston Bruins can sweep their two-game trip to the Sunshine State and take over first place in the Atlantic Division when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. The Bruins have earned points in four straight contests (3-0-1) and gone 5-1-1 in their last seven as they posted a 5-4 overtime victory at Florida on Monday, making Claude Julien (388) the franchise's all-time leader in coaching wins after blowing a three-goal lead.
Patrice Bergeron has scored in four consecutive games for Boston, totaling five goals, and Lee Stempniak has notched six points in four contests since being acquired from New Jersey at the trade deadline. The Lightning will try to keep a hold on first place after seeing their nine-game winning streak come to an end with a 4-2 defeat at Philadelphia on Monday. “Let’s not get all panicky and worried," Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos told reporters after the team was outshot 40-18. "That was a crappy game, and we realize that. It’s time to get back to work.” Ben Bishop is expected back in net after being rested Monday and carries a six-game winning streak into the contest.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TVA, NESN (Boston), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)
ABOUT THE BRUINS (37-23-7): Stempniak scored his first goal for Boston in overtime Monday to go along with five assists in a week with the team while playing on a line with Bergeron (team-best 59 points) and Brad Marchand (club-high 33 goals). Tuukka Rask was forced to make 47 saves on Monday, and that workload could give Tuesday’s start to backup Jonas Gustavsson (10-5-1, .909 save percentage). Defenseman Kevan Miller did not make the trip to Florida after suffering an upper-body injury on a hit from Washington’s Alex Ovechkin on Saturday.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (39-23-4): Tyler Johnson has raised his level of play, recording three goals and four assists over his last four contests, and linemate Ondrej Palat has netted four tallies in a three-game span. Nikita Kucherov leads Tampa Bay with 54 points - four in his last three games - and Stamkos is next with 52, including a team-high 29 goals. Slater Koekkoek notched his first career point Monday and could play again Tuesday with fellow defensemen Braydon Coburn (lower body) and Andrej Sustr (undisclosed) considered day-to-day.
OVERTIME
1. Tampa Bay continues to struggle on the power play, going 4-for-47 over its last 15 contests.
2. Boston RW Brett Connolly, who was acquired from Tampa Bay a little over a year ago, notched his second goal in 19 games Monday.
3. The Lightning have won both meetings in Boston this season but lost at home 3-1 on Oct. 31.