Bruins vs. Lightning: Game 3 prediction

The Tampa Bay Lightning head on the road to try and wrestle home ice back from the Boston Bruins in the second round of the NHL playoffs.

Behind a stout penalty kill, the Tampa Bay Lightning evened their second round series with the Boston Bruins on Sunday. Tampa Bay killed off 1:45 of a 5-on-3 in the first period, using the momentum to skate away with a 4-2 victory.

The Bruins were able to take Game 1 in Tampa Bay with three third period goals en route to a 6-2 victory.

Now, the series shifts to Boston.

Despite losing Game 1 by four goals, the Lightning have to feel pretty good about how they played in both games. They’ve attempted a total of 132 shots compared to Boston’s 75. At even strength, they’re outshooting the Bruins 57 to 36 through two games.

The Lightning were 0-2 in Boston during the regular season. Their last trip to TD Garden came on Mar. 29, a 4-2 victory for the Bruins.

With last change on home ice, it’ll be interesting to see if Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy tries to get his top line away from the shutdown trio of Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson.

Boston’s top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak could not be stopped in Game 1, but were outplayed by the Lightning’s shutdown line in Game 2. Through two games, the winner of this line battle has won the war.

With the game in Boston, I favor the Bruins. Boston is 8-1 at home in the playoffs this season and the Lightning are 1-4 in the last five trips to TD Garden. The Bruins top line will benefit from some extra shifts away fro the Tampa Bay checking line.

NEXT: 30 best NHL goaltenders of all time

The concern is Tuukka Rask, who has been shaky at various points all playoffs. It doesn’t help when the ice has been tilted in Tampa Bay’s favor. He has to be better moving forward for Boston. But he won’t need to be better in Game 3. The offense will do their part.

Prediction: Bruins win 5-3