Note: In case you've been living under a snow covered rock, the Bruins game has been moved to 7pm EST tonight. Also, the MBTA announced today that all of their services (Buses, Trains, Commuter Rail) will remain suspended for the day. Plan accordingly if you were planning on taking the train to the game.
UPDATE: TONIGHT'S BRUINS-LIGHTNING GAME IS CANELED. MORE INFO HERE.
A great hockey mind once asked: "If a goal horn goes off, but no one is around does it make a sound?"
Actually, I'm sure no one asked that, but I can bet that almost nobody will make it to tonight's game. It reminds me of the 2007 game versus the Devils where only about 1,500 people or so showed up because it was blizzard like conditions out. They played the game then and they'll play the game tonight. The only thing that could threaten the game being played is the travel ban that Massachusetts still has and the talks that it will be extended until tomorrow.
Either way, I'm writing this preview like the Bruins are playing tonight.
I'll be honest with you guys, this game scares the piss out of me. Tampa comes in tonight with the best offense in the NHL, scoring 4.20 goals per game! That's a ridiculous number when you consider that the number two scoring offense, the Blackhawks (who are on fire) "only" score 3.60 goals per game.
The Lightning has scored four or more goals in six games this season, most of them coming in January, although they did throw an eight spot on the board against Winnipeg on February 1st. Lately it seems that their offense has tapered off, losing their last three games and scoring five goals in the process.
Of course that doesn't mean anything because the Bruins defense has been so hit or miss throughout the season. Look at the games versus Buffalo and Montreal. Team speed kills this defense and makes Claude's system null and void. It's scary to think what Stamkos and St. Louis can do against this defense, considering they lit the Bruins up last year (though Marty Turco was in net so….)
Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis, though, are having tremendous seasons so far. Stamkos is third in the NHL in points with 17 while St. Louis is 5th with 16. Shut down those two and you're going to win the game, but that's easier said then done when your captain is playing like a drunken giant.
After the jump, the rest of the preview…
Media:
TV: NESN
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub
Online Feeds: Here
Projected Lines
I think Marchand is a definite. Paille will play, Thornton will sit this one out. Just guesses here.
Milan Lucic – David Krejci – Tyler Seguin
Nathan Horton – Patrice Bergeron – Brad Marchand
Chris Bourque – Chris Kelly – Rich Peverley
Dan Paille – Greg Campbell – Jamie Tardiff
Zdeno Chara – Johnny Boychuk
Dennis Seidenberg – Dougie Hamilton
Andrew Ference – Adam McQuaid
Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin
Game Day Video:
God how can anyone forget this?
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