Two questions: first - does anyone remember the last time the Bruins won three in a row? Because I'm struggling to put it together. I remember the date - December 28th, three months for all intents and purposes - but it seems like a completely different world now than it was then.
Only five times since then (including now) have the Bruins strung together two-game winning streaks and, save for a loss to Vancouver in early January, each time they've had their chance for a third consecutive win thwarted by a team that's spent most of their time lately either on the outside or struggling for a playoff spot of any sort (Carolina, Washington, San Jose).
Second: could any casual fan name one player on Tampa's roster not named Steven Stamkos? Don't get me wrong, the kid's great, but it seems like any time you turn on NESN lately all you hear about is how this is a revenge game because Stamkos scored his 50th against the Bruins two weeks ago.
Call me crazy, but that doesn't exactly compute.
Still, there's no denying that the Bruins will need a big game to hold off Tampa Bay and notch their third straight win for the first time in three months.
They'll try to do it, for better or for worse, with Tim Thomas between the pipes again. Thomas, who allowed two goals on the first five shots he saw against Tampa in the 6-1 drubbing on March 13th, may be looking for some of that revenge, but it's more likely that Boston will try to do it with the offense that has been rolling lately, recently adding the returning Rich Peverley to their numbers.
Expect tonight's lines to be the same as they were for Sunday night's win over Anaheim. And yes, that again means no Joe Corvo, who's probably still trying to bounce back from having his Wikipedia page defaced.