Jan 14, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Cole Koepke (45) skates against Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix (48) and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the third period at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Game Sixty-six: Tampa Bay Lightning (37-23-5) at Boston Bruins (30-29-8)
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Location: TD Garden, Boston
TV/Stream/Radio: FDSNSUN, NESN, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App
Odds: Lightning -162
Know the Opponents: Stanley Cup of Chowder
The Boston Bruins run as post-deadline world beaters came to a crashing end against the red-hot Ottawa Senators. After selling off a portion of their veterans, they took down the Lightning (4-0) and the Panthers (3-2) before the loss on Thursday to the Senators (6-3). The Lightning get a chance at extracting some revenge as they head up to TD Garden today.
For Tampa Bay, it’s a chance to turn down a disappointing road trip and keep the pressure on Florida and Toronto. With a win and a Maple Leafs loss they can move even in points with Toronto at 81. A victory will also help them keep their gap with the Senators, who have moved within four points thanks to a five-game winning streak.
After their last outing, a 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers, coach and players were left bemoaning the lack of shots they directed at the Philadelphia net. They mustered just 14 shots on net at 5v5 against a team that has struggled on defense of late. The Lightning aren’t a high-volume shot team like Carolina, but they tend to get their fair share throughout the night.
Even more troubling was their inability to get to the dangerous areas in front of the net. Natural Stat Trick credited them with just two high-danger chances at 5v5, their lowest total of the season. It’s easy to say that not having Nikita Kucherov in the line-up was the reason for that, but against a Flyers team that had been giving up over 9.5 per game over their last ten games, it’s just not good enough.
In their last game, and against the Bruins, the Lightning were outworked in front of the net and along the boards. Their coaching staff likes to talk about playing “prison rules” in front of the net, and doing whatever it takes to win the puck. Tonight’s game doesn’t have to pretty, but it does need to be intense and physical. Not necessarily dropping the gloves and fighting (but who knows, maybe Emil Lilleberg has to answer for Mark Kastelic attacking him one more time), but by winning the battles along the boards and fighting through the traffic in front of the net.
Prior to their big winning streak in February, the Lightning scraped a point out of an overtime loss to the Islanders. Perhaps the point against the Flyers will spark another nice run that shores up their post-season spot.
As of this morning there was no update on the status of Nikita Kucherov. The lines below are based on how they started the last game. Expect Andrei Vasilevskiy to be back in net and determined to turn his mini-slump around.
BostonStats over Last 10 Games (5v5)Tampa Bay2.10GPG2.392.22GAPG2.0318.5%PP%21.4%84.6%PK%88.0%51.33%5v5 Shot Attempt %47.33%51.66%5v5 High-Danger Chances46.54%8.02%5v5 Shooting %9.76%.9105v5 Save %.932David Pastrnak – 6G LeaderJake Guentzel – 5David Pastrnak – 8A LeaderNikita Kucherov – 7David Pastrnak – 14P LeaderNikita Kucherov – 10
Brandon Hagel – 10Mark Kastelic – 18PIM LeaderEmil Lilleberg – 113-5-2Record 6-3-1
Tampa Bay Lightning
Forwards:
Jake GuentzelBrayden PointNick PaulBrandon HagelAnthony CirelliCam AtkinsonGage GoncalvesYanni GourdeOliver BjorkstrandZemgus GirgensonsLuke GlendeningMitchell Chaffee
Defense:
Victor HedmanJ.J. MoserRyan McDonaghErik CernakEmil LillebergDarren Raddysh
Goaltenders:
Andrei VasilevskiyJonas Johansson
Boston Bruins
Forwards:
Morgan GeekiePavel ZachaDavid PastrnakCole KoepkeCasey MittelstadtVinni LettieriMarat KhusnutdinovElias LindholmJakub LaukoJohn BeecherMark KastelicPatrick Brown
Defense:
Nikita ZadorovHenri JokiharjuMason LohreiAndrew PeekeParker WortherspoonIan Mitchell
Goaltenders:
Jeremy SwaymanJoonas Korpisalo
