The Boston Bruins complete the second leg of their back-to-back with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.
The Boston Bruins will complete their Florida back-to-back with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Wednesday.
The Bruins staged a comeback 4-3 victory against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday to take sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division.
“In three weeks when it starts for real,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told reporters in Florida on Tuesday. “We’re down three times, keep coming back. Just believe in our process, believe in our identity and keep playing.”
The Bruins have a chance to gain more ground in the division standings on Wednesday, while also having the opportunity to officially clinch a playoff berth. All Boston needs is a point to lock in their place for the postseason.
The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa reported that only Jeremy Swayman, Jakub Lauko, Mason Lohrei and Kevin Shattenkirk skated Wednesday morning, indicating who the extras will be against Tampa Bay. Linus Ullmark will start, while James van Riemsdyk takes Lauko’s place in the lineup. The six defensemen from Tuesday’s game should remain the same.
The Lightning are expected to get some major reinforcements returning to its lineup in time for Wednesday’s matchup. Both Brayden Point (lower body) and Victor Hedman (lower body) missed Sunday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks, but Shinzawa reported they are both expected to play against Boston.
Point and Hedman are second and third on the team in scoring, respectively. Point has 41 goals and 39 assists on the season, while Hedman has 69 points (12 goals, 57 assists).
The Bruins are 1-0-2 against the Lightning this season, and Tampa is fighting to retain playoff position as the first wild card team in the Eastern Conference.
“It’s good that we play the teams that are [in the playoffs]," said Pavel Zacha, who scored the game-winner on Tuesday. "It’s good to get motivated against them and playing our game and just building what we have to do, and I think it started today with a game like this and we just have to do the same thing tomorrow.”
Five Things to Know About the Lightning:
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