Two of the league’s top offenses are set to face off at Amalie Arena on Thursday, as the Tampa Bay Lightning (30-15-1) play host to the Boston Bruins (38-5-4). Boston is coming off a 4-2 win over the Canadiens on Tuesday, their sixth straight win. The Bruins committed four penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal.
Four players found the net for the Bruins. David Pastrnak scored and provided three assists to lead the team in scoring. Jeremy Swayman saved 20 of 22 shots in the win.
Tampa Bay beat the Wild 4-2 on Tuesday. Corey Perry was the leading goal scorer for the Lightning, netting twice. Andrei Vasilevskiy saved 33 of 35 shots in the win (.942%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Bruins have won both games between the teams this season, including a 3-1 victory in their most recent meeting in November, their fifth straight win against Tampa Bay. Taylor Hall led Boston with two goals. Steven Stamkos scored Tampa Bay’s only goal. Swayman got the win, saving 27 of 28 shots (.964%).
FACING OFF
Boston is averaging 3.81 goals per game for the season, best in the NHL, and they are taking on a Lightning team that is allowing 2.96 goals a game (14th).
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has found the net 3.61 times a game on average, fourth in the league, and will be looking to break down the Bruins’ stout defense, which is holding opponents to a league-best 2.02 goals per game.
Power play opportunities should be plentiful for the Bruins, as the Lightning have been penalized 4.63 times a game, third-most in the NHL, for an average of 11.30 minutes (sixth-highest).
The visitors are averaging 4.34 penalties (ninth) and 10.51 penalty minutes a game (10th). The Bruins’ 27.16% power play percentage is the second-best in the league, while Tampa Bay’s 26.88% conversion rate ranks third. Boston has been equally impressive at penalty killing, boasting the league’s highest PK% at 86.75%. Tampa Bay ranks 12th at 80.39%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 69 points this season, fourth-most in the NHL, Pastrnak is the top skater for the Bruins. He is among the league leaders with 37 goals (2nd) and has added 32 assists. In the net, Linus Ullmark (25-2-1) is Boston’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 1.82 GAA, best in the league, and a .938% save percentage, also best. Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning in scoring with 68 points (3rd in the league).
He has a league-best 49 assists and 19 goals () in 46 games. Vasilevskiy (20-12-1) is the top goalie for Tampa Bay with a goals against average of 2.55. He has a save percentage of .916%.
HOME AND AWAY
Boston has won seven in a row on the road this season. Tampa Bay is 18-4-1 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Boston Bruins (-115)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
