In their first game after the All-Star break, the Lightning faced the Boston Bruins. For the Lightning, the game was the first of a four-game home stand. With the playoffs already an unlikely achievement for this team, another stretch of losses could finish off their season and force them to start thinking about how to best position themselves for the offseason.
Boston entered the game in a different position. With excellent shot and expected goal rates that suggest they should have more than 56 points, they are looking to build on a positive first half of the season and make a strong push into a better playoff position.