The Train Wreck known as The Tampa Bay Lightning pulls into North Station

Photo by Chris O'Meara/AP

The Bruins will be looking for their fifth straight win tonight when the play host to the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning will try to snap a 7-game losing streak when the take the ice tonight at the TD Banknorth Garden.

Just who are these Lightning that you speak of?
Tampa Bay Lightning 6-12-8; 20 pts (5th in Southeast, 15th in East)

Under Barry Melrose: 5-7-4
Under Rick Tocchet: 1-5-4

Leading Goal Scorer
Vincent Lecavalier 10 Goals (10-13-23)

Goaltending
Mike Smith 20 GP 5-8-7; 2.48 GAA .925 Sv% 1 SO 1 Fight
Olaf Kolzig 7 GP 1-4-1; 4.11 GAA .887 Sv%
Karri Ramo 1 GP 0-0-0; 4.29 GAA .882 Sv%

Guys Who Like to Drop the Gloves
Ryan Craig: 3 Fighting Majors
Ryan Malone: 3 Fighting Majors
Steve Downie: 2 Fighting Major
Radek Smolenak: 2 Fighting Major

'08-'09 Season Series
Bruins Record vs. Tampa Bay: 1-0-0
12/4 @ TB 3-1 W

Injury Report

Boston
LW Marco Sturm: Out (Whiplash-like Symptoms)
D Aaron Ward: Out (Leg)
D Andrew Ference: IR (Broken Tibia)

Tampa Bay
LW Gary Roberts: IR (Leg)
C David Koci: Out 2-4 weeks (Broken Hand)
C Matt Pettinger: IR (Knee)
C Chris Gratton: IR (Lower Body Injury)
C Jeff Halpern: IR (Knee Surgery)

Things to Look for Tonight

- Tim Thomas will get the start in goal.

- Can Phil Kessel extend his point streak to 12 games?

- For a textbook example of how to put undue pressure on a young player, look no further than the Tampa Bay Lightning. Have you seen Stamkos?

- Both Marco Sturm and Aaron Ward skated with the team this morning, which is a good sign. However, neither player is ready for game action and both will be out of the lineup again tonight.
- No word on who the Bolts netminder will be tonight. Mike Smith is 1-1-0 with a 1.51 GAA lifetime vs. the B's.

- Tampa Bay has not won a game since November 21st, when they beat the Nashville Predators 4-1.

Lightning's creepy mascot rocking out w/ an AC/DC cover band