Bruins at Lightning preview, a matchup with large playoff ramifications
Sturm mentioned Thursday’s consequence was because of taking the two-time defending champions evenly.
“We didn’t respect our opponent tonight,” mentioned Sturm, whose membership completed 0-2-1 towards Florida. “They had a lot of guys out, and we didn’t do our job. Shame on us today. … With a team like that, I don’t care who is out, they are a good structured team and played hard. We weren’t willing to do it.”
Added Morgan Geekie, who has a club-high 34 targets: “Tonight, it feels like you let everyone down. Had the opportunities.”
Can the Bruins rebound? Here’s the preview:
When: Saturday, 5 p.m.
Where: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
TV, radio: NESN+, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Tampa Bay -185. O/U: 6.5.
BRUINS
Season file: 43-25-8. vs. unfold: 49-27. Over/beneath: 42-33, 1 push
Last 10 video games: 6-2-2. vs. unfold: 8-2. Over/beneath: 7-3
LIGHTNING
Season file: 47-22-6. vs. unfold: 38-37. Over/beneath: 38-32, 5 pushes
Last 10 video games: 7-1-2. vs. unfold: 6-4. Over/beneath: 7-2, 1 push
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored: Boston 253, Tampa Bay 270
Goals allowed: Boston 232, Tampa Bay 208
Power play: Boston 23.8%, Tampa Bay 21.8%
Penalty minutes: Boston 944, Tampa Bay 1078
Penalty kill: Boston 76.3%, Tampa Bay 82.0%
Faceoffs received: Boston 52.8%, Tampa Bay 47.5%
Stat of the day: David Pastrnak has 96 factors (29 targets, 67 assists) and he’s making an attempt to tie Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito as the one Boston gamers to notch 4 100-point seasons.
Notes: The Lightning (47-22-6, 100 factors) moved again atop the division standings by share factors over the second-place Buffalo Sabres… Tampa Bay clinched a playoff spot with the Rangers’ win over the Red Wings on Saturday afternoon… Anthony Cirelli clinched the victory with an empty-net purpose to safe his second profession hat trick… The 28-year-old Cirelli has recorded 23 targets and 29 assists in 67 matches. He slots at a plus-35 in his manufacturing… Tampa Bay owns a 24-13-1 mark on residence ice and is 4-1-1 on its season-long seven-game homestand… Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (36-13-4, 2.34 goal-against common, .910 save share) maintained his league lead in wins over Utah’s Karel Vejmelka (34).
Cam Kerry may be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.
