Bruins at Lightning: A chance to move up

Game Thirty-eight: Boston Bruins (20-18-5) at Tampa Bay Lightning (21-15-2)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: Amalie Arena, Tampa

TV/Stream/Radio: FDSNSUN, NESN, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -162

Know the Opponents: Stanley Cup of Chowder

With the exception of the San Jose game, the Lightning played pretty well on the west coast. Unfortunately, against L.A. and Anaheim, there were just little moments in each game where they lost focus and made mistakes that cost them. Back at home on Tuesday, they were in the same spot where a mistake could cost them a game. Instead of trying too hard to force a game-winning play and thereby opening themselves up to danger, they waited for the game to come to them, and found a way to win with Brayden Point doing Brayden Point things to score the winner.

With their four-game losing streak snapped, and with a little swagger in their game, they can focus on the teams above them in the standings. First up, the Boston Bruins. Which is mighty convenient since that’s their opponent tonight (and on February 1 next season). The Lightning head into tonight’s game trailing the Bruins by one point for third place in the Atlantic Division. Any type of win tonight (regulation, overtime, or shootout) and the Bolts leapfrog them.

They’d also still have the five games in hand on the Bruins, which is nice as long as the Bolts actually win those games. A second benefit to winning is that they can, at the very least, maintain the gap they have over the teams behind them in the standings. Right now the Bolts have the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, but only have a two-point lead on the team in the second wild card spot, who is… (checks the standings)… the Columbus Blue Jackets? How about that.

It’s not a bad time for them to be catching the Bruins as they have been playing some uninspiring hockey of late. They are mired in a five-game losing streak and six of their last seven. In their last outing, they were shutout by the Oilers, 4-0, and words like “lack of urgency”, “we got what we deserved”, “soft to play against” echoed around their locker room following the loss.

Defensively, they’re not doing too bad, allowing 2.28 goals per games at 5v5 (the Bolts are at 2.30), and they’re allowing just 24.72 scoring chances per game (Tampa Bay is at 24.86). They are allowing an inordinate amount of offense from between the circles, a spot goalies really don’t like to see shots coming from.

It’s offensively where they’re struggling. Their 2.19 goals per game at 5v5 is ranked 25th in the league and their 12.4% power play is 31st. The veterans are leading the way as David Pastrnak (42 points) and Brad Marchand (32 points) are up to their old shenanigans, but it’s a big drop-off after that as Pavel Zacha has just 21 points. It’s at the point that Morgan Geekie, brother to the Lightning’s Conor, is on the top line. The elder Geekie is a solid forward, but not who you would think would be on the top line for the Bruins.

Tonight’s game is the first of a two-game swing through the state of Florida, but it is also their mothers’ trip, so there may be some extra motivation to not embarrass their parental units.

As for the Lightning, their win against the Hurricanes showcased some of things we saw from them earlier in the season when they were piling up the points. They limited Carolina’s scoring chances, took advantage of the power play, and received scoring from their top two lines. When they’ve been successful this season, that’s the formula they’ve used.

One thing that was a little different was on the bottom six where Coach Cooper swapped Gage Goncalves and Mikey Eyssimont. While it’s just a one game sample the new fourth line played pretty well in their 6+ minutes of ice time. Yes, they were on the ice for the Svechnikov goal against, but that was the only shot they gave up on the night. They had a 5-2 edge in shot attempts and were even in scoring chances, and drew the penalty that led to Nick Paul’s power play goal.

Goncalves adds a little offensive potential to the team, but he also fits in with the defensive nature of that line. We’ll see if they can turn some of the offensive zone time into actual goals, something that has been a bit of a struggle for the fourth line this season.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

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Boston Bruins

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