The Tampa Bay Lightning begin a crucial four-game homestand trailing the Boston Bruins by three points for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Tampa Bay has a game in hand but Boston has a 37-32 edge in regulation plus overtime wins. The Lightning have lost their past three home games (0-3-0) but coach Jon Cooper said they remain confident at Amalie Arena. "We've made a pretty good run on home ice, unfortunately the last three here didn't go the way we wanted," Cooper said. "But if you're given this team a choice we're definitely picking to play at home." Forward Jonathan Drouin said even though the Lightning recovered from a 5-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on March 21 with back-to-back wins on the road they learned a lesson about protecting home ice. "We feel like we gave away points, especially in the Arizona game," Drouin said. "But we have gotten back to our style and we know we have to be strong defensively against this Chicago team." Centers Tyler Johnson and Cedric Paquette, and defenseman Jason Garrison, did not participate in the morning skate and remain out indefinitely. Center Steven Stamkos continues to skate with the Lightning but will not play. There is no update on a return to the lineup.
