Bruins Look to Continue Winning Streak Against Lightning

BOSTON – The Boston Bruins prepare to host the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at TD Garden, aiming for their third win in four games since the NHL trade deadline. After a whirlwind week that included trading away key players like Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, and Brandon Carlo, the Bruins are pushing forward under interim head coach Joe Sacco.

“I think it’s important that we are ready to play every game…especially with an offensive team like Tampa, who is dangerous,” Sacco said. The Bruins defeated the Lightning 4-0 in their previous meeting last Saturday at Amalie Arena, but come off a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.

The Bruins (30-29-8) currently sit just outside of playoff contention, and without several familiar faces, they are looking to assert themselves as they adapt to their new lineup. The Lightning (37-23-5), on the other hand, are struggling with a three-game losing streak but still maintain a playoff position.

Boston’s lineup for tonight features forwards Morgan Geekie, Pavel Zacha, and David Pastrnak, with Nikita Zadorov and Henri Jokiharju on defense, and Jeremy Swayman in goal. Sacco emphasizes the need for his team to focus on executing well, especially during breakouts and handling the pressure from Tampa’s offense.

Tampa Bay comes to Boston known for its potent offense, averaging 3.49 goals per game, which ranks second in the NHL. Nikita Kucherov, with 92 points, is expected to be a key player for the Lightning, while goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, with a record of 30-18-8 and a .920 save percentage, is set to start.

“They’re very dangerous off the rush, in-zone. We have to be sharp,” Sacco stated, highlighting the importance of attention to detail as they face off against the Lightning tonight.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST, with the game broadcast on NESN and available for streaming on ESPN Plus for out-of-market viewers. The radio broadcast can be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub.