End Of The Florida Road Trip: Bruins to Visit Lightning

Oct 3, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center Gregory Campbell (11) passes the puck in front of the goal against Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Anders Lindback (39) during the third period at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Bruins will look to sweep their Florida road trip with a win over the Tampa bay Lightning on Saturday night.

The Bruins moved to 4-2 on the season after their win against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.

Boston and Tampa Bay opened the 2013-14 season against each other with the Bruins edging the Lightning 3-1. Chris Kelly and Patrice Bergeron each scored a short-handed goal and Milan Lucic added the other. Tuukka Rask made 32 saves on 33 shots with the lone goal from Tampa coming from Valtteri Flippula.

Since the opening loss back on Oct. 3, the Lightning have won five out of six games, beating the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings in the process. Their lone loss in that stretch came against the Pittsburgh Penguins in a high-scoring affair 5-4.

While the Bruins offense has been questioned, the Lightning rank tied for fourth in the NHL in goals per game with 3.57. Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis are leading the way for Tampa Bay, just like everyone expected this season. The two have ten points each this season and have been a huge part of their early success.

Ben Bishop has been the better of the Lightning’s two goalies thus far. Bishop has been in between the pipes for every one of Tampa Bay’s wins this year recording a .943 save percentage and allowing 1.57 goals per game.

The Bruins are still trying to find their game. In Thursday’s game against the Panthers, Boston started out strong by scoring two goals in the first period but then let their foot off the gas. Panther’s goalie Tim Thomas let up a soft goal late in the third period and the Bruins escaped with a win.

Carl Soderberg, who has been out with an ankle injury, has been cleared to play and may get his shot against the Lightning on Saturday.

“Carl is ready to go,” head coach Claude Julien told BostonBruins.com. “He’s been cleared so there’s a possibility there.”

Soderberg could slide in on the third line. After an impressive training camp, Soderberg was going to start on the third line if not for his injury. Jordan Caron, who plays on the third line for Soderberg, did not practice today but Julien made sure that everyone knew it was just a maintenance day for him.

Boston’s back up goalie Chad Johnson has yet to play through six games this season. Tuukka Rask has played every game this season and from Friday’s practice, there was no indication of who would get the nod on Saturday night.

Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.