Tampa Bay Lightning Vs. Boston Bruins: Behind Enemy Lines

The Tampa Bay Lightning has a score to settle as they play host to the Boston Bruins in the fourth game of their six game home stand.

The Tampa Bay Lightning has put on a pretty good show in the first three games of their six game home stand; however, the Bolts face one of their biggest challenges of the home stand on Sunday night when they play host to captain Zdeno Chara and the Boston Bruins.

There is no denying that the “Big, Bad” Bruins have had the number of the Tampa Bay Lightning all season long, and as much as we would like to say it, most of last season as well.

Having already dropped two games to the Bruins this season, you can imagine that the Tampa Bay Lightning has a bit of a score to settle with the Bruins; a score they hope to settle on Sunday night.

The Lightning will have a decided advantage heading into Sunday night’s game. The Bolts have Saturday off after defeating the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 on Friday night. On the other hand, the Boston Bruins will be playing their second game in their back-to-back weekend series.

The Bruins will take on the Florida Panthers on Saturday night in Sunrise only to head down the interstate a little while to make their way to the Amalie Arena for a showdown with the Bolts on Sunday night.

While there is no official word at this point, there is a possibility that the Boston Bruins may be getting back an all-too-important piece of their puzzle on Saturday night.

Bruins center David Krejci has already been forced to miss 12 games and counting thanks to a partially torn MCL in his left knee. If what Bruins head coach Claude Julien said holds any weight, there is a possibility that Krejci could see ice time as early as Saturday night against the Panthers.

Should things play out this way, Krejci would be primed and ready to do battle with the Lightning on Sunday.

In the 38 games the Bruins’ alternate captain has played this season, he has scored 7 goals and 19 assists for a total of 26 points along with a plus-7 rating.

No one, not even Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper can wrap his head around the precise reason as to why the Bruins seem to always get one up on the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the one thing we know for sure that if there was ever an opportunity for the Bolts to set the record straight, that would be right now.

The Tampa Bay Lightning come into this encounter on a win streak, properly rested, and with Ondrej Palat back in the lineup. On the other side of the ice, the Bruins are coming in off a back-to-back series and will undoubtedly be tired.

One thing that the Tampa Bay Lightning needs to keep on the top of their minds is that the Bruins are a desperate team right now. Whereas the Tampa Bay Lightning is counting points to determine where they will be seeded in the post season, the Bruins are still trying to even make the post season.

This is going to make an already physical team hungrier than ever to bring home the win. This means not only are the Lightning going to have to be prepared to take hard hits, but they are going to have to be ready to give them in return. Also, the Lightning are going to have to strike first and never let off the pressure.

There is nothing about Sunday’s encounter that is going to be easy, but nothing about it is impossible either.

We know that the Tampa Bay Lightning has what they need in order to get the job done, the only thing they have to do is be prepared, focus their energies, and play a consistent 60 minutes of hockey. They took their last encounter all the way to a shootout, which means that this can go either way.

What are you expecting from Sunday’s encounter with the Boston Bruins? Which player do you think will be the first to strike? Furthermore, are you ready to Be The Thunder and show the black and yellow how we do things here in the Bolts Nation? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Don’t forget, the puck drops at an early 5:00 p.m. EST here at the Amalie Arena.

Next: Lightning Defeat the Red Wings in a Possible Playoff Preview

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