The Lightning return home to the St. Pete Times Forum after completing their three game roadtrip going 3-0-0 and will be looking to extend their three game winning streak to a season-high four when they host the Boston Bruins on Monday night in a nationally televised game (VERSUS).

This is the first of four meetings and first of two on the season at the Forum between the Bruins (11-5-2) and Lightning and for the Lightning they’re returning home where they’ve earned points in 5 out of 7 games.  Boston has points in four straight, which includes three wins (3-0-1).  A win tonight would give Tampa Bay its 1st 4-game win streak since Feb. 2nd to Feb. 9th of last season, a streak that ended when it played the Bruins at the Forum on Feb. 11th.

Game 19 Away Team, Boston Bruins: 11-5-2, 24 points, 2nd Northeast Division, 4th Northeast Division, 7-1-0 away.

The Bruins had their three-game win streak snapped on Saturday night, losing 4-3 in a shootout against the LA Kings at the TD Garden. Boston is now 0-2 on the season in shootouts.

Special teams for the B’s have been very similar to last year – great on the penalty-kill, but struggling on the power play. The Black and Gold killed off all five times shorthanded against the Kings, and have now successfully killed-off 19 of their last 20 times short. Although going 1-for-5 on the PP, Boston has capitalized just twice in their last 23 power play opportunities.

Who’s Hot

Mark Recchi: 2-5-7 totals in four of his last seven games
Patrice Bergeron: 3-8-11 in nine of his last 12 games
Milan Lucic: Has at least one point in 14 of the Bruins’ 18 games this season; 10-7-17 totals and plus-5 rating
Nathan Horton: Has points in 13 of the Bruins’ 18 total games; 8-10-18 scoring totals including 1-4-5 and plus-6 in his last five

After missing the previous six games with a mild concussion, David Krejci returned to the lineup on Saturday night, posting four shots on goal in 22:21 of total ice time. Marc Savard has cleared tests to resume skating and practicing with the squad, and made his debut to the Bruins’ Saturday morning skate prior to their battle with LA.

Despite a misleading 1-4-1 record, Tuukka Rask notched his first win of the season — a shutout — against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night in Boston, and sits third overall among NHL goaltenders with a .939 save-percentage, and 10th with a 2.24 goals-against average. With the Bruins scheduled to play two games in the Sunbelt this week, and Tim Thomas coming off the 4-3 shootout loss on Saturday, expect Rask to get the nod between the pipes against the Lightning tonight.

Projected Lineup

Milan Lucic-Davis Krejci-Nathan Horton
Tyler Seguin-Patrice Bergeron-Mark Recchi
Jordan Caron-Blake Wheeler-Michael Ryder
Brad Marchand-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara-Andrew Ference
Matt Hunwick-Dennis Seidenberg
Mark Stuart-Johnny Boychuk

Tuukka Rask
Tim Thomas

Injury Report

Lightning: Matt Smaby (Ankle; IR), Randy Jones (lower body), Simon Gagne (Neck; Injured Reserve) and  Vincent Lecavalier (Hand; Injured Reserve)

Boston: Marc Savard (Post Concussion Syndrome; IR),Marco Sturm (Knee surgery; IR) and Trent Whitfield(Achilles surgery; IR)

Lightning Morning Skate News: Courtesy of Althea Pashman, Examiner.com

Mike Smith will get the start in goal tonight…  Simon Gagne is still not ready to return.

Projected Lineup

Martin St. Louis-Steven Stamkos-Steve Downie
Ryan Malone-Dominic Moore-Teddy Purcell
Sean Bergenheim-Nate Thompson-Adam Hall
Mattias Ritola-Blair Jones-Dana Tyrell

Pavel Kubina-Randy Jones
Brett Clark-Victor Hedman
Mike Lundin-Mattias Ohlund

Mike Smith
Dan Ellis

Lightning Nutz and Boltz

Steven Stamkos has 15 points in his last eight and Martin St. Louis comes in with 13 points in his last eight as well.

Teddy Purcell also comes in with three points in his last two and Adam Hall has points in two straight contests.

Pavel Kubina is 1 goal shy of breaking Dan Boyle’s franchise record for most career goals by a defenseman (66).

The Lightning has never won a season series over the Bruins

Since 10/22, following his hat trick and 4-point game against the Atlanta Thrashers, Steven Stamkos has either led the league or shared the league lead in scoring, with tonight marking the 32nd consecutive day he has done so. As of 11/21, Stamkos held the NHL lead with 19 goals, 34 points and 10 PPGs and 17 PPPs

Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis ranked atop the NHL among teammate points leaders entering play 11/21 with 60 points.  Pittsburgh duo of Sidney Crosby and Evengi Malkin are next with 53.   Stamkos and St. Louis also entered 11/21 with the NHL’s highest total of teammate goals with 27, 3 ahead of the next closest pairing Ovechkin and Semin (24) and also led the NHL among teammate PPPs (31).

Nate Thompson is a former Bruin

Mike Vernace and Johan Harju were reassigned to AHL Norfolk