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Boston Bruins: Top three ways to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning

By jc

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 06: Boston Bruins Center Charlie Coyle (13) tries to get past Tampa Bay Lightning Defenceman Cameron Gaunce (33). During the Boston Bruins game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 06, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 06: Boston Bruins Center Charlie Coyle (13) tries to get past Tampa Bay Lightning Defenceman Cameron Gaunce (33). During the Boston Bruins game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 06, 2019 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON – OCTOBER 14: Boston Bruins’ David Pastrnak, (88, far left) celebrates his goal against the Anaheim Ducks with Bruins teammates Jake DeBrusk (74) and Patrice Bergeron (37) during the first period. The Boston Bruins host the Anaheim Ducks in a regular season NHL hockey game at TD Garden on Oct. 14, 2019. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

Take advantage of power play opportunities

The Lightning may have one of the best power plays in the league, but their penalty kill is a weakness.

Tampa Bay only killed 17 out of 23 penalties in the first six games. This 73.9% rate is below the league average.

If the Bruins want to win the game, they need to capitalize on their power play opportunities.

The Bruins, like the Lightning, have a dominant top power play unit. Brad Marchand functions as the main playmaker, while Pastrnak handles that Stamkos role.

Pastrnak remains the main option on the power play, but Jake DeBrusk can be a big factor against Tampa.

Tampa’s best defenders aren’t overly-physical. Hedman and Ryan McDonagh are great players, but they aren’t always aggressive in one-on-one battles. DeBrusk therefore has the chance to do some damage if he establishes positioning out front.

This will be especially useful against a goalie like Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy is one of the premier goalies in the league, so the Bruins have to make life difficult with him with traffic out front.

DeBrusk will be an important piece to the top power play unit in the game against Tampa. He doesn’t have a goal yet this year, but he could very well find himself on the scoresheet soon.

Where do the B's stand in the Atlantic?. light. Related Story

We’ll see a ton of talent on the ice Thursday night at TD Garden. Marchand, Pastrnak, Stamkos, and Kucherov are only a few of the names who will do battle. If the Bruins limit Tampa’s top players and win the special teams matchup, they’ll be the ones who leave with a victory.

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