Need to Know: Bruins vs. Lightning

BOSTON - It's been a while since these two Atlantic Division rivals have done battle, but on Saturday night at TD Garden the Bruins and Lightning will renew acquaintances for the first time since their second-round playoff matchup in the Toronto bubble in August 2020.
The last regular season matchup between the teams came a few months earlier in the days leading up to the league's COVID-19 shutdown. The March 7 tilt on Causeway Street was a memorable one that included 94 penalty minutes and ended in a 5-3 win for the Bolts.

"They're a good team," said Taylor Hall, who will be suiting up for his first Bruins-Lightning showdown. "They've built a really solid foundation over the past couple of years, obviously. No matter who's in their lineup, they have a way of playing and a tenacity about them. We know it's going to be a hard game. We know that whoever is in their lineup, they seem to have skill and speed throughout. It will be a good test for us tonight.
"Especially after last win, a character win I feel like, it's important to come back after a day off and really have a good start and build our game from there."
The Lightning (13-5-4, 30 points) come to town having snapped a brief two-game skid with a 4-2 win over St. Louis on Thursday night. Tampa, which sits in third place in the Atlantic Division, has been without former Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov (lower-body) since mid-October and last season's leading scorer Brayden Point (upper-body) since Nov. 20, though neither absence has seemed to slow them down.
"They're finding ways to win even missing, arguably, their top two players," said Bruins assistant coach Joe Sacco. "They're doing it through good team defense. They're defending well. They obviously have an elite goaltender too. It seems like they're dialed in with their details away from the puck and defensively, which gives them an opportunity to win every night. And some timely scoring.
"It's gonna be a tough game. They're a good team, regardless of who they're missing. We're missing a good player [in Brad Marchand, too]. But I expect it to be a fun game, should be a lot of energy in the building. I imagine our players will be super excited to play here tonight."
Captain Steven Stamkos paces the Lightning with 25 points (11 goals, 14 assist) in 21 games with former Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman chipping in 22 points (5 goals, 17 assists) in 22 games. Tampa's ace goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is 11-4-3 with a 2.14 goals against average and .926 save percentage, will get the start against Jeremy Swayman.

Here's everything else you need to know ahead of the 7 p.m. puck drop on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub:

McAvoy a Game-Time Decision

Charlie McAvoy missed the morning skate with a non-COVID illness and has been labeled a game-time decision for the B's contest against the Lightning. If the blue liner is unable to suit up, Jack Ahcan - recalled from Providence on Saturday morning - will likely skate alongside Derek Forbort.
"Jack's been good in Providence for them," said Sacco. "He's just going to have to be solid defensively. And then, obviously, on the offensive side, make the plays when they're there because that's what he does well - he moves the puck well, he transitions it well, and he should be able to join the rush for us at the appropriate time and maybe create some opportunities there for us."

Zboril Ruled Out

Jakub Zboril, who suffered a lower-body injury on Thursday night in Nashville, will not play against the Lightning. His availability beyond Saturday will be determined once he is re-evaluated in the coming days. "We'll know more after that," said Sacco.

Life at the Top

While the results on the scoresheets haven't quite been there yet, Taylor Hall has enjoyed his time filling in for Marchand - who will serve the final game of his suspension on Saturday - on Boston's top line. The former league MVP has fit in seamlessly alongside Patrice Bergeorn and David Pastrnak, forming a trio that continues to provide a dangerous offensive punch.
"I think we've had two good games," said Hall. "Not much to show for it on the scoresheet. Hopefully we can do a couple things tonight to make that change. But I think we've played well and controlled play to a certain extent.
"It's frustrating especially in that Detroit game to play those minutes and come up shorthanded and lose a game like that because we weren't able to produce. But those are great players and I'm relishing the opportunity for sure."
Sacco has noticed Hall using his patented speed through the neutral zone, while also adapting to the top line's tendencies in the offensive end.
"I think he's been skating well through the neutral zone, using his speed effectively off the rush," said Sacco. "In the offensive zone, I think that line when Marchy's in there, they do like to cycle the puck, they like to protect it. I think that's been a better part of his game the last couple, as far as protecting the puck, being able to cycle it with those two players, hang onto it a little bit longer than normal maybe. He's been effective in that role so far, so hopefully that will continue here tonight."

Wait, There's More

• Sacco reiterated that Bruce Cassidy's COVID-19 symptoms remain mild but there is no timetable for his return to the bench. "He's doing well, spoke with him this morning," said Sacco. "He's waiting his time now and hopefully he'll be back soon."
• Anton Blidh, who has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, took to the ice before morning skate but will not play against the Lightning. "He's making progress," said Sacco.
• In addition to Ahcan, winger Oskar Steen was also recalled from Providence, which had been in lockdown due to a COVID-19 outbreak earlier in the week. "Those two players who have been brought up have obviously gone through the NHL protocol," said Sacco. "They've been testing daily, sometimes twice a day. They've been removed from their group the last little while. They are available to us if we need one or two of them."

Saturday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Taylor Hall - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Erik Haula - Charlie Coyle - Craig Smith
Nick Foligno - Trent Frederic - Karson Kuhlman
Jake DeBrusk - Tomas Nosek - Curtis Lazar
DEFENSEMEN
Derek Forbort - Jack Ahcan/Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk - Brandon Carlo
Mike Reilly - Connor Clifton
GOALIES
Jeremy Swayman
Linus Ullmark