It’s gut-check time for the Boston Bruins.
Bruce Cassidy’s squad entered Thursday’s pivotal matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning with a chance to jump into a top-three spot in the Atlantic Division for the first time since October. They welcomed prized trade-deadline addition Hampus Lindholm to the lineup, but had to go without captain Patrice Bergeron (arm injury) for the fourth straight game.
The Lightning spent the week getting their two prime trade deadline additions in Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul acclimated to their club. Yet, they’ve encountered a bit of a slump of late, carrying a 4-6 mark over their previous 10 games.