BOSTON -- What to look for tonight when the Bruins play the Lightning:
PLAYER NEEDING HIS TIRES PUMPED: Tyler Seguin was held scoreless on the West Coast trip along with a minus-2 and only four shots on net. The 20-year-old dropped below 12 minutes of ice time in the third period against the Los Angeles Kings as he found himself on the bench and he appears to be going through one of the valleys of his season. With the third line carrying the offense for the last two weeks its high time for Bostons biggest offensive weapon to start getting involved again.
DRESSING ROOM MANTRA HEADED INTO THE GAME: Weve made steps in the right direction. That Tampa game was obviously an embarrassing game for us. If you asked every guy in here theyd tell you that wasnt our style of hockey. They came at us and played to the final buzzer, but we didnt show up at all in that game. Chris Kelly talking about the redemption on the minds of the Bruins after the Lightning thrashed them in Tampa.
KEY MATCHUP: It will be all about an energized Zdeno Chara, celebrating his 1,000thNHL game played in front of his home crowd for the first time, dropping the hammer down on Steven Stamkos. The Bruins have allowed seven goals in five games since putting the two defensemen together, and now theyll be going up against an elite sniper thats scored three goals in the last two games. Stamkos has also set the Tampa franchise record with 53 goals this season and itll be up to No. 33 to put the clamps down.
STAT TO WATCH: 11the number of points Brian Rolston has in 15 games with the Bruins in a deal with the New York Islanders for B level prospects.
INJURIES: Tuukka Rask (groin strain) andf Nathan Horton (concussion) are both out without a return close in sight. Rich Peverley (knee) returned to the lineup and played 16 plus minutes Sunday afternoon. For the Lightningcenters Vincent Lecavalier (hand) and Nate Thompson (upper body) and right wing Adam Hall (upper body) are day-to-day. Mattias Ohlund (knees), Dana Tyrell (knee), Marc-Andre Bergeron (back), Mathieu Garon (lower body) and Ryan Shannon (upper body) are out. Lecavalier may be making a return against the Bruins tonight.
GOALTENDING MATCHUP: Tim Thomas finally got a rest after appearing in 16 straight games, and the 37-year-old should be at the top of his game after appearing to hit a groove over the last two weeks. Thomas is 3-1 with a .946 save percentage in his last four games, and appears to have found the second wind that eluded him when he made 16 straight appearances for the Bruins. Now its on to a Tampa, which is in the middle of a three-game winning streak.Dwayne Roloson is on a three-game winning streakhis first since all the way back in November of this seasonand the 42-year-old should be getting the start in a rematch of Eastern Conference Final goaltenders from last year.