The Bruins avoided the shutout with a late Michael Ryder goal, but it wasn't nearly enough to overcome Tampa's three-goal outburst in the second period.
Boston falls to 11-6-2 with its second straight loss, but will get a chance to get back on track on Wednesday as they head across Florida to take on the Panthers.
Third Period, 18:38, Lightning 3-1: Rask is out of the net for the extra attacker.
The Bruins struggled to get out of their own zone with control of the puck just to pull him.
Third Period, 15:52, Lightning 3-1: Krejci with a bid in front stopped by Smith.
That's the first shot of the night for Boston's top line, as Horton and Lucic are still without a shot on goal in this game.
Third Period, 12:21, Lightning 3-1: Tuukka Rask keeps Boston's comeback hopes alive as he stones Dominic Moore breking in alone from the left wing.
Rask then controlled the rebound with Downie ready to pounce at the top of the crease.
Third Period, 10:38, Lightning 3-1: The Bruins finally get on the board, as Michael Ryder cuts it to 3-1.
Ryder tipped in a Blake Wheeler shot at the right post, with Jordan Caron picking up the second assist.
Third Period, 9:36, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins can't convert on the power play, as they've yet to cut into the lead nearly halfway through the third period.
Third Period, 7:36, Lightning 3-0: The Lightning take their turn trying to send too many guys out on the ice, so now it's Boston's turn on the power play.
This might be the Bruins' last chance to get something started to get back into this game.
Third Period, 6:20, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins kill off another penalty, but now they have to mount some offense back at even strength.
The penalty kill has been one of the few bright spots for the Bruins in this game.
Third Period, 4:20, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins turn to their old standby, getting called for too many men on the ice.
Haven't seen that one as often this year, but the Lightning can put this one away if they can convert here.
Third Period, 3:28, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins couldn't get anything going on that power play, as Tampa is back at full strength with its three-goal lead still intact.
Third Period, 1:28, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins will finally get their first power-play chance of the game as Seguin uses his speed to draw a hooking call on Downie.
Third Period, 0:00, Lightning 3-0: The final frame is under way, with the Bruins needing an early goal to have any chance of a comeback in this one.
Second Intermission Notes: The Bruins faced a 3-0 deficit just one game ago and rallied to earn a point in a shootout loss.
But that was a much different scenario. The Bruins were down 3-0 on Saturday despite actually playing pretty well, as the Kings took advantage of a couple of opportunities and jumped out to a lead. in this game, there's nothing undeserved about this three-goal hole.
The Bruins have been thoroughly outplayed by the Lightning, who hold a 31-15 edge in shots. That includes a 20-8 advantage in the second, when Tampa scored all three goals. Seguin leads the Bruins with three shots, but it's hard to find any highlights to this point. Andrew Ference is having a particularly rough night, as he's a mnus-3 after being on the ice for all three goals. The Bruins have also won just 9 of 29 faceoffs (31 percent) so far tonight.
Tampa, meanwhile, has been getting contributions from all over the lineup, with nine different players each with one point.
End Second Period, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins will head into the third facing the daunting task of overcoming a three-goal deficit.
They're lucky it's not four goals though, as stamkos stole the puck from Chara and broke in 2-on-1 with St. Louis in the closing seconds, but Rask flashed a toe save to rob St. Louis at the left post and keep it at 3-0.
Second Period, 17:00, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins may have gotten a little help there, as Sean Bergenheim took a stick to the face and then was tripped up, and neither play drew a penalty call.
The Bruins could use any break they can get at this point down 3-0 late in the second.
Second Period, 15:00, Lightning 3-0: Chara is right back on the ice for his next shift, once again showing his toughness.
Second Period, 12:59, Lightning 3-0: More potential bad news for the Bruins, as Chara skates gingerly to the bench in obvious pain.
Second Period, 12:27, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins had a chance to get one goal back with a 2-on-1, but Marchand couldn't handle the pass from Thornton.
Second Period, 11:36, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins battled back from a three-goal deficit to force overtime on Saturday. They'll have to do it again in this one to earn another point.
Tampa extended its lead to 3-0 as Teddy Purcell pounced on a rebound of a shot that went wide off the end boards and flipped it in at the left post.
Second Period, 10:15, Lightning 2-0: The Bruins have calmed things down after Tampa's quick-strike attack produced a pair of goals, but now they face a deep hole to climb out of against the Lightning.
Second Period, 5:15, Lightning 2-0: The Lightning strike again quickly, with Stamkos tipping this one home behind Rask from the top of the crease.
Martin St. Louis and Steve Downie get the assists as all three members of Tampa's top line factor into this goal, which is Stamkos' 20th on the season already.
Second Period, 3:26, Lightning 1-0: The Lightning strikes for the all-important first goal, as Dana Tyrell scores on a deflection in front.
Tyrell tipped a Randy Jones shot past Rask as the Lightning had the Bruins scrambling in their own zone after Milan Lucic broke his stick.
Second Period, 2:47, 0-0: The Bruins kill off another penalty, as Boston's stellar short-handed work continues.
Second Period, 0:47, 0-0: The action has certainly picked up to start the second, with Marchand and Stamkos each having good chances on the first shift.
But that sequence ended with Dennis Seidenberg getting called for cross-checking, and the Lightning goes back on the power play.
Second Period, 0:00, 0-0: The middle frame is under way, with the Bruins looking to get some more energy and offense going in this period after getting out of the first unscathed.
First Intermission Notes: The Bruins played a bit of rop-a-dope in the first, but the success of that strategy will come from how effective they counterpunch in the final 40 minutes.
Tampa threw a lot at Boston early, but Tuukka Rask, making his first start since Thursday's 41-save shutout against Florida, stopped all 11 shots he faced again in this period.
The Bruins evened the shot count a bit to make it 11-7 by the end of the period, but Tampa controlled play for long stretches and had the better of teh chances.
Boston did get some early opportunities, particularly from Tyler Seguin, who seems to be taking to his new spot on the wing well. Seguin had two shots and two takeaways in 4:13 of ice-time. Blake Wheeler also continues to look more comfortable at center, though he still needs to improve his faceoff work (1-2 in first).
End First Period, 0-0: The Bruins survive the late penalty, and Tampa's control of much of the opening period, to head into the first intermission with a scoreless draw.
First Period, 17:55, 0-0: The Bruins get the first penalty of the game, as Thornton is called for interference on a collision with Jones in the corner.
First Period, 15:58, 0-0: The Bruins are just trying to weather this early storm, as Tampa has opened the game with a 10-3 edge in shots.
The Lightning are dominating the possession in the Bruins' end, but Rask has been up to the task so far.
First Period, 14:08, 0-0: Rask stops Stamkos on the young star's first big chance, a turaround shot at the right post.
First Period, 13:15, 0-0: The Lightning create a chance when Tyrell steals a long outlet pass from Chara, but Rask holds the fort until the puck is cleared.
First Period, 11:18, 0-0: Steve Downie and Zdeno Chara pick up their battle from last season as Downie takes a run at the big defenseman, but not surprisingly takes the worst of the collision.
Last year Chara was incensed enough to drop the gloves despite a mangled finger to go after the Tampa agititaor, but Downie turtled and no majors were handed out.
First Period, 10:10, 0-0: The first time in a while that Boston's energy line was really back on its heels and hemmed up in its own zone for a long stretch before the Bruins could finally get a clear.
First Period, 8:30, 0-0: The puck is really jumping on this ice in Tampa. Both teams struggling to connect on crisp passes in the early going.
First Period, 6:22, 0-0: Tampa's Matheiu Roy, a late addition to the lineup as the Lightning opted to skate seven defensemen, makes his presence felt as he steps up into Thornton for a big hit in the neutral zone.
First Period, 4:40, 0-0: Seguin, now out with his new regular line with Bergeron, nearly scored a strange one as he blocked a breakout pass from behind the net onto goal, but Smith made the unexpected save.
First Period, 3:10, 0-0: Seguin, playing on the wing again, creates an early chance with a steal and shot.
Seguin was out with Campbell and Thornton at the point, but it appeared to be in the middle of a line change.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: And we're under way in Tampa, where the Lightning have countered Boston's energy line with Ryan Malone, Dominic Moore and Dana Tyrell up front and Pavel Kubina and Randy Jones on defense.
And yes, that is the same Randy Jones who nearly ended Bergeron's career with his brutal head-first hit into the boards back in 2007.
7:30 p.m.: Almost ready for game-time in Tampa, and Rask and Smith are starting in net as expected.
Daniel Paille and Adam McQuaid are the scratches again for the Bruins, who will start the "energy line" of Greg Campbell, Shawn Thornton and Brad Marchand, with Mark Stuart and Dennis Seidenberg on defense.
The Lightning have scratched forward Mattias Ritola, which means they'll go with seven defensemen and just 11 forwards in this one. Mathieu Roy is in as the extra defenseman.
6:15 p.m.: The Bruins will take on the Lightning in Tampa in just over an hour, a slightly later start than usual (faceoff is at 7:30 p.m.) to accomodate the national TV broadcast.
Tuukka Rask appears set to be in the national spotlight, as he was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate indicating he will get the start. Mike Smith is expected to get the starting nod for the Lightning.
The Bruins also tweaked their lines at the skate, moving Tyler Seguin up alongside Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi, while Jordan Caron moves to Blake Wheeler's line opposite Michael Ryder. A full breakdown of the projected lineups can be found here.
This will also mark the first meeting between Seguin, the No. 2 pick this year, and 2008 No. 1 overall pick Steven Stamkos, who currently leads the NHL in both goals and points with 19-15-34 totals. Stamkos is also one of the players Bruins general manager compared Seguin to prior to the draft. Bruins fans would love to see Seguin reach the heights Stamkos has in his young career.
A full breakdown of Monday's matchup can be found in our Facing Off feature.
8 a.m.: The Bruins will beat the holiday travel rush with a quick trip down to the Sunshine State for a pair of games against Tampa Bay and Florida.
But it won't be all sun and fun when Boston takes on a vastly-improved Lightning team on Monday. First-year general manager Steve Yzerman has worked wonders in Tampa, turning them into a legitimate threat in the East.
After hitting a rough patch to start the month as the Lightning went 1-5-1 to open November, Tampa has turned things around with three straight wins — all on the road. Now they return home to host the Bruins for the first time this year, with both teams possessing 24 points, though the Bruins have played two fewer games.
The Bruins got a boost Saturday with the return of David Krejci from a concussion, but Tampa could also get reinforcements as Simon Gagne might be ready to come back from the neck injury that has kept him out of the last 14 games.
Bruins fans don't need a reminder of the impact a Gagne return can have, as his return from a foot injury, combined with Krejci's wrist injury, helped turn the tide of last spring's playoff series with Philadelphia. Gagne, then a Flyer, scored four goals, including two game-winners, in four games as Philly overcame a 3-0 series deficit.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. in Tampa, so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action.
