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After the Bruins took the opening game of the series in emphatic fashion, the Lightning flipped the script and showcased why they're arguably the best team in the Eastern Conference. Tampa Bay ripped off four consecutive wins in pretty dominant fashion to send the Bruins packing.
How to watch
TV: NBC, NBCS
Stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Follow: CBS Sports App
(All times ET)
- Game 1 (Saturday, April 28): Bruins 6, Lightning 2
- Game 2 (Monday, April 30): Lightning 4, Bruins 2
- Game 3 (Wednesday, May 2): Lightning 4, Bruins 1
- Game 4 (Friday, May 4): Lightning 4, Bruins 3 (OT)
- Game 5 (Sunday, May 6): Lightning 3, Bruins 1
*--If necessary
NHL Playoffs odds
Here's a look at each team's projected odds to advance via SportsLine, not to mention their odds to win not only their conference, but also the Stanley Cup.
Matchup breakdown
Offense
This Lightning offense is a problem. After scoring 18 goals in the first round, 10 of which Nikita Kucherov had a hand in, the Lightning will face off against the talented (albeit streaky) Bruins team, whose first two lines have continued to be solid throughout the playoffs despite a few droughts. Only two Lightning players went negative in plus-minus in the first round. The Bruins were less top-heavy in the scoring department -- David Pastrnak had 13 goals while two other players had nine, and after Kucherov's 10 points the next-best Lightning scorer was Steven Stamkos with six -- but the offense that the Lightning put together in five games is insane, and having one of the best scorers in the NHL definitely elevates the team in a tight battle with Boston's deep list of scorers.
EDGE: Lightning
Defense
The Lightning have two top-flight pairs with Victor Hedman and Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonough and Anton Stralman. Once they start digging into that third pair against the Bruins' formidable scorers they may start to run into some trouble. For the Bruins, Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy lead the way with Torey Krug and Kevan Miller complementing them against the Lightning's outstanding first two lines. Overall, the first two pairs are fairly even. It could come down to the third pairs to determine this series against two of the deepest scoring rosters in hockey.
EDGE: Draw
Goaltending
Oh boy, which Tuuka Rask are we going to get? Rask was all over the place against the Maple Leafs, although to their credit, that Maple Leafs team could score. Andrei Vasilevskiy didn't see a ton of firepower against the Devils, and it showed in the box score. He gave up 12 goals in the five first-round games, although five of those came in one game. It was definitely the start that Vasilevskiy needed after a bad end to his regular season. However, if Rask struggled against the Maple Leafs, posting a save percentage of .899, then there's reason to be concerned about him against the Lightning. He'll need to have some short memory, but he also just survived a series against the No. 3 scoring team in hockey. Now he's dealing with No. 1.
EDGE: Lightning
Special teams
Long story short, the Lightning cannot afford to go the box against the Bruins. The Bruins scored on 32 percent of their power play opportunities against the Maple Leafs, who took 22 penalties throughout the series. The Lightning took 20 penalties in just five games against the Devils. During the regular season, these teams were third and fourth in the NHL in conversion rate, but the Lightning were an alarming 28th in the NHL on the kill. Boston was third, so their four goals in 15 attempts in the first round raises some eyebrows. Regardless, a line of Bergeron, Marchand, Nash, Pastrnak and Krug is not an inviting one for the Lightning, and the only way to avoid that nightmare is to stay out of the box.
EDGE: Bruins
Predictions
Skiver: Yes, the Bruins won the regular season series. Ask Bruce Cassidy or Jon Cooper how much that matters. The Bruins struggled against a Leafs team that does all of the same things that Lightning do, just a smidge worse. The Bruins are feisty, and make no mistake, this series will be a bloodbath. However, Andrei Vasilevskiy and two solid pairs of defensemen for the Lightning should be able to wreak just enough havoc to keep the Lightning alive. Never mind that the Bruins are coming off an utterly exhausting series against Toronto. Lightning in 6.
Benjamin: I'm tempted to make this the first deviation from my pre-playoff predictions, because the Lightning are simply loaded with scoring talent, and Andrei Vasilevskiy seems to have settled down. But the Bruins play Tampa well, and their big offensive names have enough juice to power them through. Bruins in 7.
Blackburn: My head is telling me Tampa should take this one. They've got all the makings of a true Stanley Cup contender - an elite top line plus depth, a solid top four on defense featuring a Norris-worthy workhorse, plus good goaltending - and they appear to be healthier, with home ice. But the Bruins are in the true contender category as well, and they've done a pretty good job limiting Tampa's big-time playmakers throughout the year. The injuries and inconsistencies worry me, but I've talked myself into believing Boston can once again showcase resiliency and gut this out. Bruins in 7.
