Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins: Streak vs. Streak

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins : Game 65

Time: 7:30 pm Eastern Time

Location: TD Garden

Broadcast/Streaming: NBCSN

Opponent SBNation Site: Stanley Cup of Chowder

Preview

This is just the second meeting between Tampa and Boston this season. Both teams look great recently: the Lightning have 10 straight wins and established a new franchise record for the most wins in a row. The Bruins have a 14-game point streak, including seven consecutive wins since the end of January. Quietly, Boston has reached second place in the Eastern conference, but they are still 19 points behind the Lightning.

The Bruins work at the Trade Deadline went unnoticed compared to some other teams. But they managed to fill their deficit positions without losing good prospects or key players. Charlie Coyle is a great addition to play third-line center, a position where the Bruins needed help all season. They also added Marcus Johannson, an experienced winger who will help on the second power play unit. The Bruins’ lack of depth was their weakest point and those two trades should help address that.

David Pastrnak had thumb surgery and will miss at least two more weeks. Before his injury ,he led the team with 31 goals in 56 games and was second on the Bruins in points. Kevan Miller has a minor upper-body injury and will probably be a game-time decision. Noel Acciaritook a puck to his face and missed practice on Wednesday afternoon. The Bruins have recalled Peter Cehlarik and Karson Kuhlman from Providence and as Bruce Cassidy said, Cehlarik is likely to play tonight if Acciari isn’t ready.

Ryan Callahan played against his former team yesterday and will likely return to the press box tonight. Mathieu Joseph is expected to replace him in the lineup. Louis Domingue should start in net on the second half of a back to back. On defense, Braydon Coburn will will return to the rotation and expected either Dan Girardi or Anton Stralman to get a rest after playing last night.

Nikita Kucherov has already reached 104 points with another three point game last night and is getting closer to surpassing Vincent Lecavalier’s 108 for the most points in a single season.

These teams played against each other in the second round of the last season’s playoffs and there is a good chance they will meet again in the postseason this year. The Lightning defeated the Bruins 4-1 in last year’s series. They will also play against each other three times over the next month, including tonight’s game, so it’s a great opportunity to get to know a potential opponent.