The Boston Bruins know what to expect from the Tam

The Boston Bruins know what to expect from the Tampa Bay Lightning—three strong offensive forwards and one unusual defensive alignment.Going seven days without a game gave Bruins coaches plenty of time to prepare for the Eastern Conference finals.“Every day our head was in the upcoming series,” coach Claude Julien said Friday. “The players are the ones that are given days off and are told to just kind of get away from the rink for a bit and then come back. We have to have things prepared for them.”The Bruins and Lightning, who have the same regular-season and postseason records, start the best-of-seven series Saturday night.By the time the first puck is dropped, Boston Bruins Jerseys Tampa Bay will have gone nine days without a game since it swept the Washington Capitals. Two days later, the Bruins completed their four-game sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers.“I know a lot of people said they were hoping that (Bruins) series would last longer and that they would get tired out,” Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. “I was actually hoping for the opposite so that we’d both be in the same boat and we will be.”
The Bruins have dominated the Lightning in Boston with a 23-4-6 record. But the scoring skills of Martin St. Louis(notes), Steven Stamkos(notes) and Vincent Lecavalier(notes) and a 1-3-1 defensive alignment that clogs the neutral zone could silence Bruins fans.St. Louis was second in the NHL in both points (99) and assists (68),Emilio Pucci Sunglaess, Stamkos was second with 45 goals, and LeCavalier had 25 goals and 29 assists in 65 games. In 11 playoff games, they’ve combined for 15 goals. And Sean Bergenheim(notes), a third-line wing, has a surprising seven goals.“Every team you play has got some players that you’ve got to keep a close eye on,” Julien said. “Hopefully, they’re thinking the same way about our players. NHL Jerseys We’ve handled other teams pretty well and we’re going to have to handle those guys just as well if we plan on having success.”Defenseman Zdeno Chara(notes), at 6-foot-9 without skates, will have a big role in that.“He’s the biggest guy in the league and that stick is pretty long,