Preview: Lightning look to close out series against Bruins in Game 5
TV: NBC
TIME: 7 p.m.
POSTGAME COVERAGE ON FOX SPORTS FLORIDA AND FOX SPORTS GO
Boston Bruins (44-14-12, first in the Atlantic Division during the regular season) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (43-21-6, second in the Atlantic Division during the regular season)
EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND
Tampa Bay leads series 3-1
BOTTOM LINE
The Tampa Bay Lightning look to clinch the Eastern Conference second round over the Boston Bruins in game five. The teams meet Monday for the ninth time this season. The Lightning won the last meeting 3-1. Ondrej Palat scored a team-high two goals for the Lightning in the victory.
The Lightning are 18-5-1 against the rest of their division. Tampa Bay leads the league shooting 11.2% and averaging 3.5 goals on 31.1 shots per game.
The Bruins are 14-6-3 against the rest of their division. Boston leads the Eastern Conference with 57 power-play goals, led by David Pastrnak with 20.
TOP PERFORMERS
Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning with 52 assists and has 85 points this season. Brayden Point has five goals and nine assists over the last 10 games for Tampa Bay.
Zdeno Chara leads the Bruins with a plus-26 in 68 games this season. Brad Marchand has seven goals and five assists over the last 10 games for Boston.
DURING THE PLAYOFFS
Lightning: Averaging 3.0 goals, 5.5 assists, 4.8 penalties and 10.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game with a .927 save percentage.
Bruins: Averaging 2.2 goals, 4.1 assists, 4.4 penalties and 11.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.0 goals per game with a .897 save percentage.
INJURIES
Lightning: Ryan McDonagh: day to day (undisclosed), Steven Stamkos: out (lower body).
Bruins: None listed.