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Lightning at Bruins Game Preview: Time for a rematch

Jan 9, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix (48), Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo (25) and teammates fight at the end of the game at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Game Forty-two: Tampa Bay Lightning (23-15-3) at Boston Bruins (21-19-5)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: TD Garden, Boston

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

Odds: Lightning -142

Know the Opponents: Stanley Cup of Chowder

The Lightning have shaken things up on the roster a little as they sent Gage Goncalves to Syracuse and recalled Jack Finley. While Finley won’t be in the line-up tonight (at least based on the morning skate) he will add some size to the Lightning when he does take to the ice. Not only is the roster a little different, it looks like the bottom-six has had a makeover as well with Zemgus Girgensons getting a bump up to the third line to skate with Nick Paul and Conor Geekie while Mitchell Chaffee joins Luke Glendening and Mikey Eyssimont.

Cameron Atkinson appears to be rejoining the second line with Goncalves on his way north, but that might not last long as Coach Cooper has had an affinity for putting Geekie with Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel. The shake-up is most likely needed on the bottom six. As Eddie Encina pointed out over at The Tampa Bay Times, the bottom-six has produced just one goal at 5v5 in the last eight games. While the Bolts don’t need them to score like the Gretzky Oilers, a little bit of offense would help take the pressure off of the top-six and power play.

Tonight would be as good of times as any for them to produce some offense as the Bolts take on the Bruins for the second time in six nights. The last game didn’t end on the best of terms as the two teams scuffled following the final whistle in the Bolts 4-1 victory at Amalie Arena last Thursday. The Boston players weren’t exactly thrilled with Emil Lilleberg’s defensive crosscheck to the neck of Mark Kastelic and subsequent lopsided win in the fight that Kastelic was apparently looking to start by cruising over to hit the young defender well after the game (and play) was decided.

So, expect things to be physical, and for Lilleberg to have to “answer for his actions” or whatever the outdated unwritten code of hockey requires. Boston might want to muck things up a little simply because injuries are starting to take a toll on their line-up. Kastelic and Charlie McAvoy were just placed on injured reserve while Hampus Lindholm was moved to long-term IR. Matt Poitras and Michael Callahan were recalled today to take Katelic and McAvoy’s spots in the line-up.

Much like the Lightning, the Bruins are coming off a win but aren’t exactly bragging about it. Following the loss to Tampa Bay, Boston went down to Sunrise and somehow won a 4-3 overtime game despite being out attempted 111-39 and outchanced 57-18 by the Panthers. Why, yes, Jeremy Swayman was very good that day as he stopped 40 shots and posted a 3.04 GSAx.

As for the Lightning, they pulled out a 5-2 win against the Penguins that was a lot closer than the final score indicated (two empty-net goals will do that), but after a tough first period, they dug down and found a way to pull out two points. Key goals from their top players helped pull out the win and Jonas Johansson had a solid game in net.

What the Lightning want to avoid tonight is getting caught up in any post-whistle shenanigans. They are statistically the better team at 5v5 and can’t get goaded into taking bad penalties by the Bruins. While it might be momentarily thrilling to lay out a Boston player with a big hit or win a fight, the Lightning need to win on the scoreboard and start putting some separation between the two teams in the standings. They don’t want to back down from the Bruins, but don’t go out of the way to cause trouble, either.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:

Jake GuentzelBrayden PointNikita Kucherov
Brandon HagelAnthony CirelliCameron Atkinson
Zemgus GirgensonsNick PaulConor Geekie
Mitchell ChaffeeLuke GlendeningMikey Eyssimont

Defense:

Victor HedmanDarren Raddysh
Ryan McDonaghErik Cernak
Emil LillebergNick Perbix

Goaltenders:

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Jonas Johansson

Boston Bruins

Forwards:

Morgan GeekiePavel ZachaDavid Pastrnak
Brad MarchandElias LindholmVinni Lettieri
Oliver WahlstromMatthew PoitrasTrent Frederic
Cole KoepkeJohn BeecherJustin Brazeau

Defense:

Nikita ZadorovAndrew Peeke
Parker WotherspoonBrandon Carlo
Mason LohreiJordan Oesterle

Goaltenders:

Jeremy Swayman
Joonas Korpisalo
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