Bruins at Lightning preview
Boston tries for first win in five games; Tampa Bay looks to get on track at home
by Corey Long / NHL.com Independent Correspondent
BRUINS (20-6-6) at LIGHTNING (15-11-3)
7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, SUN, NESN, NHL.TV
The Game
The Boston Bruins will try to end a four-game winless streak when they play the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Thursday.
Boston is on the second half of a back-to-back set following a 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. They have been outscored 16-8 in their past four games (0-3-1).
Tampa Bay, which defeated the Florida Panthers 2-1 on Tuesday, is seeking to win consecutive games for the first time since winning three straight from Nov. 21-25.
The Lightning, who begin a four-game homestand, are 1-4-0 in their past five games at Amalie Arena.
Players to watch
Bruins forward Brad Marchand has three assists in his past two games.
Lightning captain Steven Stamkos has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past five games.
They said it
"That middle group [David Krejci's line] needs to push themselves a little bit…We expect [Krejci] to drive that line. (Anders) Bjork is playing hard, working hard, we expect Danton (Heinen) to get inside a little more. Charlie (Coyle) to get inside a little more. A little more puck possession. Harder to play against with the puck. Attack mentality." -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy on production from the second and third lines
"They're obviously one the best lines in the League. We've got to do our best to slow them down, but they are going to get opportunities. It's up to us to eliminate them as much as we can and force them to play on their end." -- Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman on Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak
Bruins projected lineup
Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk -- David Krejci -- Brett Ritchie
Anders Bjork -- Charlie Coyle -- Danton Heinen
Joakim Nordstrom -- Sean Kuraly -- Chris Wagner
Zdeno Chara -- Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug -- Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk -- John Moore
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak
Injured: Karson Kuhlman (fractured tibia)
Scratched: Par Lindholm, David Backes, Connor Clifton
Lightning projected lineup
Ondrej Palat -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn -- Anthony Cirelli -- Steven Stamkos
Pat Maroon -- Cedric Paquette -- Yanni Gourde
Carter Verhaeghe -- Mitchell Stephens -- Mathieu Joseph
Victor Hedman -- Jan Rutta
Ryan McDonagh -- Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev -- Kevin Shattenkirk
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Curtis McElhinney
Injured: Tyler Johnson (lower body), Braydon Coburn (lower body)
Scratched: Luke Schenn
Status report
Cassidy said that Moore was going to skate this morning and if he was able to play he would draw in for Clifton. … Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said Johnson will not be available through the weekend. … Coburn did some light skating on his own Thursday.
Stat pack
DeBrusk needs one point for 100 in the NHL. … Kucherov needs two goals for 200 in the NHL. …Pastrnak has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in his past nine games. … Killorn has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past five games.