Lightning hope to snap skid against red-hot Bruins
Boston (16-4-4) at Tampa Bay (6-10-8), 7:30 p.m. EST
TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- A pair of teams going in opposite
directions meet on Thursday when the Tampa Bay Lightning host
the Boston Bruins.
Tampa Bay has dropped five in a row - two coming beyond
regulation - and is 1-6-4 in its last 11 contests. The
Lightning are 1-3-4 under new coach Rick Tocchet.
Meanwhile, Boston finished off an 11-1-1 month of November with
a 4-1 victory over the defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit
Red Wings on Saturday. The Bruins are 14-2-1 in their last 17
contests.
Goaltending has been a huge strength for the Bruins, who are
allowing a league-fewest 2.13 tallies per game.
Backup netminder Manny Fernandez, who made 29 stops against
Detroit, has won his last six starts. Tim Thomas has posted a
1.88 goals-against average and is second in the league with a
.940 save percentage.
That does not bode well for Tampa Bay, which is last in the
league in scoring at 2.29 goals per contest.
Tampa Bay lost its last game, 4-3, in overtime to Philadelphia
on Tuesday. Mike Richards scored on the power play at 2:05 of
the extra period after Steve Downie tied the score with 4:35
left in regulation.
The teams will meet again in Boston on Monday.
