Lightning host Bruins in battle between hot teams

Hockey Betting Lines

02/23/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One night after taking over sole possession of first place in the Southeast Division, the Tampa Bay Lightning will try to extend their lead when they return to St. Pete Times Forum this evening to face the Boston Bruins.

Tampa Bay entered Thursday's key showdown with Atlanta tied with the Thrashers for the Southeast's top spot, but pulled ahead of its rival with a hard-fought overtime victory. Martin St. Louis' goal with 1:16 remaining in the extra session lifted the Lightning to the big 5-4 win.

Brad Richards left a drop pass for St. Louis, who rifled a one-timer from the top of the left circle that beat Johan Hedberg and gave red-hot Tampa Bay its fifth triumph in six games.

St. Louis also had two assists and Richards finished with a goal and a pair of helpers. Vincent Lecavalier became the NHL's first player to reach 40 goals this season when the All-Star center scored late in the second period.

Lecavalier now has amassed 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists) during a six-game scoring streak. St. Louis (5 goals, 6 assists) and Richards (2 goals, 8 assists) have also recorded points in each of the last six contests.

The Lightning will open up a three-game homestand tonight and bring a five- game win streak at St. Pete Times Forum into this evening's test. Tampa Bay is 17-13-0 as the host this season.

Boston comes in on a roll of its own, as the Bruins have won three straight and five of their last six games to climb back into contention in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The club still trails Carolina, which holds the East's final seed, by seven points, however.

The Bruins are 3-1-0 on a current six-game road trip and posted a 3-0 decision over rival Toronto in their most recent outing. Tim Thomas stopped all 44 shots he faced in Tuesday's win to pick up his third shutout of the campaign.

Stanislav Chistov, P.J. Axelsson, and Jason York had the goals for Boston, which is 7-2-0 over its last nine games. Marc Savard assisted on Chistov's tally to extend his personal scoring tear to six games (2 goals, 7 assists).

Boston prevailed despite playing without two of its top offensive threats. Center Patrice Bergeron missed his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury, while right wing Glen Murray was scratched with a groin problem.

Murray is out for tonight's contest as well, while Bergeron's return is questionable.

The Bruins will close out this trek Saturday at Florida, then begin a three- game homestand against Atlanta on Monday.

Boston can earn a sweep of the season series with a victory tonight. The Bruins have claimed the three previous meetings in 2006-07, as well as seven of their last eight encounters with the Lightning. Boston has also won three straight in Tampa.

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