TAMPA, Fla. — If the Lightning are going far in the playoffs, they’re going to have to beat teams like the Bruins.
Friday’s game was the last of three this week against Eastern Conference contenders, and the Lightning needed a win after losing to Toronto and Washington.
Boston offers a superb measuring stick. The teams know each other well from previous playoff battles. In the regular season, they play tightly-contested games and seem to bring out the best in each other, not to mention the Bruins came to Tampa having won 10 of their last 13.