[1:10 PM] Lightning @ Bruins

Who will WIN this matchup?

Tampa Bay Lightning (13-8-1)

@ Boston Bruins (11-10-0)

 

Starting Goalies:

Ben Bishop (TB): Unconfirmed

Tuukka Rask (BOS): Unconfirmed

 

• The Tampa Bay Lightning look to rebound from one of their worst efforts of the season when they begin a three-game road trip against the Atlantic Division-rival Boston Bruins on Sunday afternoon. The Lightning had a total of 12 giveaways while allowing goals on the power play, during 4-on-4 action and while short-handed in a 5-3 loss to Columbus on Friday after winning five of their previous six.

• The Bruins have struggled on the other end of the ice, managing just four goals during their three-game losing streak. David Pastrnak is off to a strong start with 12 goals, but Boston has needed more contributors all season.

• Tampa Bay finally showed the full effect of not having the steady Stralman and captain Steven Stamkos (knee surgery) in the lineup Friday as the defense coughed up the puck constantly and the offense looked out of sync. Without Stamkos and wing J.T. Brown (upper body), Cooper continued to juggle his lines while dressing seven defensemen and 11 forwards. Nikita Kucherov has recorded 19 of his team-high 26 points in the last 14 games and Ondrej Palat has notched two goals and four assists in his last four contests.

• Brad Marchand, the team’s leading point producer with 18, left practice early Saturday after taking a shot off his leg. Boston can ill afford to lose Marchand, who is second on the team in goals (six) and one of only three players with a double-digit point total – along with Pastrnak (16) and David Krejci (12). Tuukka Rask (11-4-0, 1.67 goals-against average, .938 save percentage, three shutouts) is expected to be back in net after being rested in favor of Anton Khudobin on Friday.

• The Lightning have won their last two visits to Boston but have dropped three of the last four overall meetings after a 4-3 shootout setback on Nov. 3.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Boston Bruins

Confidence: 5/10

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