Boston has now lost three straight for just the second time all season and the first time since late October.
That erases one of the games in hand the Bruins had on Ottawa, as Boston's lead in the Northeast Division remains at just two points with now just one game in hand. The Bruins will look to end their losing streak when they close out their three-game road trip Thursday against the Florida Panthers.
Third Period, 16:14, Lightning 6-1: The Bruins kill off that penalty are are back at even strength with less than four minutes left in this one.
Third Period, 14:14, Lightning 6-1: The Bruins will be shorthanded for the next two minutes as Tyler Seguin is called for high-sticking.
Third Period, 11:43, Lightning 6-1: The Bruins come within inches of another goal as Brad Marchand hits the post from the right circle, and the Lightning counterattack and score at the other end.
Steven Stamkos gets the goal with a rocket from the right slot for his 50th goal of the season.
Third Period, 9:13, Lightning 5-1: The Bruins are denied again on the power play as the sides return to even strength nearly halfway through the third period.
Third Period, 7:13, Lightning 5-1: The Bruins will be back on the power play as Victor Hedman is called for holding Tyler Seguin. Milan Lucic with a strong shift, setting up Chara for a scoring chance and nailing JT Wyman with a huge hit.
Third Period, 5:13, Lightning 5-1: The Bruins can't convert that power play either, but Patrice Bergeron did return during that penalty to provide some positive news.
Third Period, 3:13, Lightning 5-1: The Bruins get another power-play chance as Tokarski is called for delay of game for clearing the puck over the glass.
Third Period, 1:55, Lightning 5-1: The Bruins get on the board as Jordan Caron tips in a Johnny Boychuk shot in front.
It's not all good news though, as Patrice Bergeron hobbled off the ice and headed to the locker room after being hit by a shot just before the goal.
Third Period, 1:35, Lightning 5-0: The power play the Bruins carried into the third period has expired without Boston being able to convert its first man advantage of the night.
Third Period, 0:00, Lightning 5-0: The final frame is under way in Tampa, where the Bruins will look to produce something positive to build on going forward after a rough first two periods in this one.
Second Intermission Notes: A quick glimpse at the stat sheet would make this look like a close game.
The Bruins are up 17-13 in shots, including 15-3 in second period. They lead 25-18 on faceoffs (58 percent), with Patrice Bergeron 15-3 on draws. Hits are even at 17-17 and blocked shots are 8-8.
But it's far from close on the scoreboard, where Tampa Bay has a commanding 5-0 lead. The Lightning scored on one of those three shots for the only goal of the second to extend their advantage further and drive Tim Thomas from the net. He gets some rest after all as Marty Turco returned for his second stint of the night.
It might be time to rest some other players. Bergeron has already played 12:16 coming off his injury blocking a shot in Pittsburgh on Sunday, and may be in line for some shifts off in the third.
End Second Period, Lightning 5-0: The middle frame comes to a close, but not before Tampa Bay adds another goal to extend the lead to five through 40 minutes.
Second Period, 19:25, Lightning 5-0: The Bruins will get their first power-play chance of the night as Milan Lucic drives hard to the net and draws the call on Mike Commodore.
Second Period, 16:40, Lightning 5-0: The Bruins have shuffled things a bit up front, moving Jordan Caron up to the top line with Milan Lucic and David Krejci. Tyler Seguin is back with his old linemates Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.
Second Period, 13:18, Lightning 5-0: Tyler Seguin with a chance for the Bruin in alone down the slot, but he is denied on the bid to break the shutout.
That chance followed shortly after Greg Zanon landed a big hit on Tim Wallace into the bench.
Second Period, 12:02, Lightning 5-0: Steven Stamkos with a chance for his 50th goal of the season as he bursts through the slot, but he can't put the backhander home at the left post.
Second Period, 8:45, Lightning 5-0: Jordan Caron dumps Tampa defenseman Brendan Mikkelson as Caron bulls his way down the slot in a rare battle won by the Bruins on this night.
Second Period, 6:33, Lightning 5-0: Things have settled down a bit in the second. The Bruins still aren't generating any chances, but the Lightning haven't had any real threats since Turco returned either.
Second Period, 3:06, Lightning 5-0: The rout continues as Tampa Bay adds another goal from Steven Stamkos.
Stamkos goes around behind the net and scores on a wraparound at the right post that goes off Thomas and in. That ends Thomas' night as Turco returns to the net on another goalie change.
Second Period, 0:00, Lightning 4-0: The middle frame is under way, with the Bruins facing a daunting four-goal deficit after a forgettable first period in Tampa.
First Intermission Notes: The Bruins face a 4-0 deficit after what was probably their worst period of the season and maybe their worst period in several seasons.
The Bruins managed just two shots on goal, the first of which didn't come until well after the Lightning had a 3-0 lead and had already chased Marty Turco from the game. Turco's first start as a Bruin lasted just 4:31, as he failed in both his goals for the night: Keeping the Bruins in the game and giving Tim Thomas some much-needed rest.
The first goal was controversial as it appeared Tom Pyatt kicked it in, but there are no excuses for a period that saw the Bruins outplayed in every aspect of the game. The top line of David Krejci, Milan Lucic and Tyler Seguin are each a minus-3 and don't have a shot between them. The Lightning have a 10-2 edge in shots and even a 9-7 advantage in hits.
End First Period, Lightning 4-0: The opening frame comes to a merciful end, but not before the Bruins dug themselves a huge four-goal hole as the Lightning have twice as many goals as Boston has shots.
First Period, 16:08, Lightning 4-0: The Bruins finally win something as Shawn Thornton pounds out a one-sided win over Mike Commodore in a fight. Thornton switched hands a few times, but it was a series of lefts that landed the telling blows.
First Period, 15:38, Lightning 4-0: The Lightning add another and the rout is truly on.
This one comes off the stick of defenseman Victor Hedman, who collected a puck that popped up high in the air in the high slot and fired it home through traffic in front for the first goal past Thomas.
First Period, 15:06, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins kill off that penalty and Thomas gets his first work of the night with a pair of saves, including a big one on Ryan Malone at the top of the crease to keep it a three-goal deficit.
First Period, 13:06, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins will be shorthanded again as Daniel Paille is called for slashing Steven Stamkos. Thomas has yet to face a shot since coming on in relief, but that could change with the Lightning now on the power play.
First Period, 9:24, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins finally get their first shot, with Trent Whitfield the unlikely source on a wraparound at the left post turned aside by Dustin Tokarski.
First Period, 8:24, Lightning 3-0: The Bruins still looking for their first shot on net. Tyler Seguin appeared to have a chance, but a good defensive play by the Lightning breaks it up on the backcheck. Lightning up 6-0 in shots and 3-0 on scoreboard.
First Period, 4:31, Lightning 3-0: The Lightning add another, with Ryan Shannon scoring on the power play to chase Turco from the game.
Shannon broke in alone, deked around Turco and tucked the puck in at the right post. That will be it for Turco, who gets lifted and Tim Thomas will not get any rest after all.
First Period, 2:54, Lightning 2-0: The Bruins will now be shorthanded as Shawn Thornton picks up a roughing penalty in a scrum in front of the Boston net.
First Period, 2:26, Lightning 2-0: The Lightning add another quick one on Turco as Nate Thompson scores.
Turco was unable to tie up the puck at the left post and it popped free to Thompson, who flipped it into the open net.
First Period, 1:56, Lightning 1-0: The Lightning strike quickly on Marty Turco and the Bruins with Tom Pyatt' scoring from the top of the crease.
The goal was immediately waved off by the referee for being kicked in, but the decision was overturned upon review and the goal stands.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: The action is under way in Tampa, where the Bruins will look to end a two-game losing streak and take advantage of one of their games in hand to extend their lead on Ottawa in the Northeast Division.
7:30 p.m.: Patrice Bergeron isn't just playing, he's starting up front with Brad Marchand and Jordan Caron. Andrew Ference and Dennis Seidenberg open on defense, with Marty Turco in goal.
The Lightning counter with Marty St. Louis, Steven Stamkos and Teddy Purcell up front, Brett Clark and Brian Lee on the blue line and Dustin Tokarski in net.
7:25 p.m.: The Bruins' scratches are in, and Patrice Bergeron is in the lineup. Daniel Paille also returns, while Adam McQuaid will miss this one.
Benoit Pouliot also remains out, while Mike Mottau and Lane MacDermid are the healthy scratches. Greg Zanon returns to the lineup and Trent Whitfield makes his season debut.
The Lightning scratch Brandon Segal. They will go with seven defensemen and just 11 forwards. Bruno Gervais and Mathieu Garon remain out with injuries.
7:10 p.m.: Patrice Bergeron was on the ice for warm-ups and could still play in this one. Adam McQuaid's game-time decision appears to have already been made, as he did not skate in warm-ups. Looks like Greg Zanon will return to the lineup.
7 p.m.: No last-minute surprises in Tampa as the teams take the ice for warm-ups. Marty Turco leads the Bruins onto the ice and will get his first start in goal for Boston.
Dustin Tokarski leads out the Lightning and will start for Tampa Bay.
6:45 p.m.: The conference final between the Bruins and Lightning last year couldn't have been any closer. The series went the full seven games with each team scoring exactly 21 goals. Game 7 was a 1-0 nail-biter decided by Nathan Horton's goal midway through the third period.
This year, there's 14 points and nine spots in the standings separating the teams, and the first two meetings this season have been a little more lopsided as well.
The Bruins rolled to a 4-1 win in Boston back on Oct. 8. The first clash in Tampa was closer, but the Lightning pulled away late for a 5-2 win.
6:30 p.m.: The Bruins will take on the Lightning in about an hour in Tampa, and they'll do it with Marty Turco between the pipes.
The veteran will make his first start as a Bruin as Boston gives Tim Thomas a much-needed break after appearing in nine straight games.
The Bruins will also have Daniel Paille back in the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury, while Patrice Bergeron and Adam McQuaid will be game-time decisions after being hurt in Sunday's loss in Pittsburgh. Benoit Pouliot will remain out for a third straight game.
8 a.m. ET: Last spring, the Bruins and Lightning clashed in an epic seven-game showdown in the Eastern Conference Final not settled until Nathan Horton scored midway through the third period of Game 7 at the Garden for a 1-0 victory and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
A rematch this postseason is not likely. Tampa Bay sits in 11th place in the East, seven points out of the final playoff spot in the conference. The Lightning (31-30-7, 69 points) have lost their last three games to further dim their slim playoff hopes.
But the Bruins (40-25-3, 83 points) have their own problems as they head to Tampa for the second leg of a three-game road trip on Tuesday. Boston has dropped two straight and is just 12-14-2 in the last two months. The Bruins' lead in the Northeast Division has been trimmed to just two points over Ottawa. Boston does have two games in hand on the Senators. This game in Tampa is one of those, and its imperative for the Bruins to pick up points.
The Bruins have been hit hard by injuries, with Nathan Horton (concussion), Rich Peverley (knee) and Tuukka Rask (groin) out long term and Daniel Paille (upper body), Adam McQuaid (upper body) and Benoit Pouliot (lower body) each day-to-day. Patrice Bergeron was also injured blocking a shot on Sunday, but is hopeful of being able to play Tuesday. McQuaid and rookie Max Sauve, who returned to Boston with a hip injury, were also hurt in Sunday's loss in Pittsburgh.
Tampa Bay has its own injury issues, with goalie Mathieu Garon (groin), center Vincent Lecavalier (hand), forward Dana Tyrell (knee) and defensemen Marc-Andre Bergeron (back), Bruno Gervais (upper body) and Matthias Ohlund (knees) all injured as well.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. Tune in to NESN to watch the game, and stay with the NESN.com live blog, as we'll keep you up to speed on everything happening.
