Fun Under the Lights: Lightning at Bruins Preview

Game Fifty-Three: Boston Bruins (30-20-5) at Tampa Bay Lightning (34-14-4)

Time: 6:30 PM EST

Location: Raymond James Stadium, Home of the Two-Time Super Bowl Champions

TV/Stream/Radio: ESPN, ESPN+

Odds: Lightning -225

Know the Opponents: Stanley Cup of Chowder

“We’re going to treat this game just like any other.”

That’s how Brandon Hagel answered the question when he was asked about the importance of the Lightning’s match-up against their division rival Boston Bruins. That’s the stock answer. Why would anyone expect a hockey player to say anything else? Once the action gets going, the game should settle into a rhythm, but expect a weird start to the game as the players get adjusted to playing outside in front of 65,000 fans.

Previewing this game is tough to do because it is such a paradigm shift from a normal NHL game. It’s a 6:30 start. It’s outdoor. There will be pomp. There will be circumstance. So, a normal look at the numbers and how each team is playing doesn’t really apply. It would be like comparing the first game of a playoff series to the last game of the regular season. There is just a different atmosphere.

That being said, the team that can treat this just like any other will have the best shot at the two points. Once the initial adrenaline of playing under the lights wears off, the Lightning are going to have to find a way to get into doing the things that have worked for them – protect the front of the net, get the puck out of the zone, and capitalize on their chances.

It looks like they will have Victor Hedman back in the line-up as they slowly get back to full strength. A deeper defense should help against Boston, a team that always plays the Lightning tough. The Bruins aren’t feeling any sympathy for them as they will likely enter the game without Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha.

With an 8-1-1 record over their last 10, they’ve clawed their way back into a Wild Card spot with a six-point lead over Columbus, the first team on the outside of the playoff bubble. While they’ve racked up a lot of their points at home thanks to a 21-8-1 record, they have picked up points in three of their last five road games (2 wins and an OT loss).

Again, take these numbers with a grain of salt, but on the road they’ve averaged 3.12 GF/GP, boosted by a 29.8% success rate on the power play, second in the league. They’ve also allowed 3.52 goals per game on the road, so things could get a little wild and wooly tonight.

Look, would it be nice to win tonight? Sure. But it’s more important to enjoy the spectacle. The Lightning fought hard to host an outdoor game. There aren’t many times when a team is the focus of the entire hockey world, tonight is one of those.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

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Boston Bruins

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