Officials
Referees Chris Rooney (5), Michael Markovic (31)
Linesmen Michel Cormier (76), Kiel Murchison (79)
Ntl. Anthem Todd Angilly
TODAY’S GAME - The Bruins host the Lightning today in the 4th and final game between these teams this season and the 2nd of 2 at TD Garden. - They are 55-11-5 overall this season and they are 29-3-3 on home ice ... The Bruins are 31-7-3 vs Eastern Conference opponents. - This is the 12th 50-win season in Bruins history ... It is their second straight 50-win campaign and the most since 4 straight from 1970-71—1973-74 ... The total at the 64-game mark were the fastest 50 wins in NHL history. - The Bruins are playing today their 14th of 16 matinees this season (local start time 4:00 pm or earlier) … They have a 10-2-1 record in afternoon games so far. - They open today the 12th of 14 sets of back-to-back games this season … They are currently 9-0-2 in the 1st game of those sets and are 8-3-0 in the 2nd games so far. - The Bruins conclude a 3-game home stand (2-0-0) today ... They will next plat in Carolina on 3/26 before returning home to host Nashville on 3/28 and Columbus on 3/30.
MILESTONES APPROACHING - Dmitry Orlov is looking to play his 700th NHL game today. - A. J. Greer’s next game will be his 100th NHL game. - David Pastrnak is 1 point short of his 600 NHL point. - Matt Grzelcyk is 2 assists short of his 100th NHL assist.
INJURIES/SUSPENSION (Total man-games lost in 2022-23: 107) - AJ Greer – serving today a 1-game NHL-imposed suspension - Derek Forbort – Lower body - Taylor Hall: Lower body (LTIR) - Nick Foligno: Lower body (IR)
BOSTON vs TAMPA BAY, LIFETIME SERIES - The Bruins and Lightning are meeting for the 115th time in their histories with the Bruins having a 71-31-9-3 record and 375-296 scoring advantage in those games. - The Bruins are 40-9-6-2 lifetime vs. Tampa Bay at home with a 205-136 scoring edge in those 57 contests.
NHL STATS FOR GAME 72
Yet again, a winning streak is growing.
The Bruins (55-11-5, 115 points) will go for their sixth consecutive victory when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon.
"I know we've won a lot this year, but it really is (hard to win) with the schedule as challenging as it is right now," Montgomery said. "We're playing four games a week, and it's four in six nights consecutively for five weeks, so we're not going to have the most energy we usually have."
Saturday begins the Bruins' third of five straight weekend back-to-backs, the second including a road game following a home game.
Following the game, Boston heads to face Carolina, which became the second team to clinch a Stanley Cup Playoff berth after beating the New York Rangers on Thursday.
David Pastrnak is one goal away from becoming the Bruins' first 50-goal scorer since current team president Cam Neely in 1993-94.
The winger's 49th of the season set a new career-high mark and stood as the game-winner in Thursday's 4-2 win over Montreal.
"He's probably the best at knowing where to go to score goals in this league -- or one of them, if not top three," Jake DeBrusk said. "You just try to take notes, honestly, day to day and see how he does it."
After the Canadiens pulled goaltender Jake Allen, linemate Brad Marchand attempted to set up Pastrnak for the milestone goal with an empty net.
"(This team is) incredibly selfless," Montgomery said. "You see guys sacrificing their bodies blocking shots, you see plays like that. It's not the first time we've seen guys pass up an empty-net goal to try and get somebody else. Whether they're trying to get 20 goals, 50 goals, 800 points, 1,000 points. A lot of milestones this year."
Pastrnak has seven goals and 15 points in his last 11 games.
On Friday, forward A.J. Greer will have a hearing with NHL Player Safety after being assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a cross-check to Montreal's Mike Hoffman's face during Thursday's first period.
The Lightning (42-25-7, 90 points) are 5-4-1 in their last 10, having lost three straight -- including Thursday's 7-2 loss to Ottawa -- following a three-game win streak.
Tampa has scored just twice in each of its recent losses, with Thursday's game marking the third since February in which it allowed seven goals. A four-goal third period blew open Ottawa's lead.
"We fed everything they did, and it's unfortunate," Tampa coach Jon Cooper said. "We're having a little tough stretch here, but it's all self-inflicted. I'm just not sure when they're going to learn, but they're learning tough lessons."
Brayden Point and Mikhail Sergachev scored the Lightning goals, both of which were assisted by Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov.
Stamkos has three goals and five assists during a five-game point streak.
On Thursday, though, it was far too little. The Lightning will have to correct the turnover issue quickly while readying for the NHL's best team.
"I think there is a little bit of feeling sorry for ourselves, a tiny bit," Cooper said. "I think that's what makes it tough. They know they're making these mistakes."
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