The last time the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning met was on Columbus Day. The Black and Gold were struggling in many areas — specifically on the defensive end — and the Bolts struck for six goals at TD Garden to hand their Atlantic Division foes their third straight loss.

Since then, the two teams have been going in opposite directions. The Bruins have only lost once since their 6-3 loss on Columbus Day — a 5-4 overtime defeat to the Flyers after blowing a two-goal lead — while the high-powered Lightning have gone 2-4-2 in their last eight. Tampa has lost its last three where they have scored a grand total of one goal in that span.

The Bruins are fresh off a 3-1 win over the Panthers last night and look to notch at least one point for the seventh straight game. They are getting timely goals, solid goaltending from Tuukka Rask and an improved defense over the last two games where they’ve outscored their opponents by a 9-1 margin.

The Lightning, meanwhile, are hoping to get back on track and put a Bolt to the Bruins hot streak on Halloween night.

Gametime: 7 p.m.
T.V./Radio: NESN/98.5 The Sports Hub
Records: Bruins, 5-3-1 (11 points), Lightning, 5-4-2 (12 points)
Location: Amalie Arena

Bruins’ projected lines

Loui Eriksson-David Krejci-David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Brett Connolly
Matt Beleskey-Ryan Spooner-Jimmy Hayes
Zac Rinaldo-Chris Kelly-Tyler Randell

Zdeno Chara-Kevan Miller
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
Joe Morrow-Colin Miller

Jonas Gustavsson
Tuukka Rask

Lightning projected lines

Alex Killorn-Steven Stamkos-Ryan Callahan
Ondrej Palat-Tyler Johnson-Nikita Kucherov
Vladislav Namestnikov-Valtteri Fippula-Erik Condra
Jonathan Marchessault-Brian Boyle-J.T. Brown

Victor Hedman-Anton Stralman
Matt Carle-Jason Garrison
Andrej Sustr-Nikita Nesterov

Ben Bishop
Kristers Gudlevskis

Matchup to watch: Chara-Miller pairing vs. Tampa’s top six

Zdeno Chara will have the tall task of trying to contain Ryan Callahan and the Lightning’s top six on Halloween night. (Photo by Joe Makarski/Bruins Daily)

After missing the first two games due to injury, Bruins captain Zdeno Chara made his season debut, pairing with Kevan Miller. The duo had a rough time trying to contain the Lightning’s top six forwards, and Chara was even caught on some bad line changes that led to a couple of goals from Jonathan Drouin and local product Brian Boyle, who scored a pair of goals that afternoon.

The Chara-Miller pairing may get a break if they have to defend against the Lightning’s second line. Tyler Johnson, the center of “the triplets” line, is questionable with an undisclosed injury. Either way, the Bruins top D pair will either get the assignment of defending the Palat-Johnson-Kucherov line or the Killorn-Stamkos-Callahan trio.

For a defense that has made some solid steps forward since their three-game losing streak, the B’s will need a solid outing from Chara and Miller if they want to continue their hot streak.

Storyline to watch: Can David Krejci extend his point streak to double digits?

David Krejci’s nine-game point streak is the most from any Bruin to start a season since 1992-93. (Photo by Joe Makarski/Bruins Daily)

With an assist — on the power play — in last night’s win over the Panthers, Krejci extended his point streak to nine straight games to start the season. The Czech centerman enters tonight’s Halloween matchup as the second leading scorer in the league with 15 points (seven goals, eight assists), trailing last year’s Art Ross Trophy winner Jamie Benn by two points.

Despite their three-game losing streak, the Lightning have done a good job stopping opposing offenses as of late, allowing just five goals in that span. Ben Bishop has allowed three goals and has sported a .939 save percentage in his last two starts, but came away as the hard-luck loser in both games.

The last time Bruins fans saw a double-digit point streak to start the season was in 1992-93 when Joey Juneau and Dmitri Kvartalnov notched at least one point in their first 14 games. Krejci is on the verge of team history, but he’ll need to accomplish the feat against a goaltender and a defense that is playing well over the last three games.