Essentially the most oft-quoted stat for the Tampa Bay Lightning heading into Wednesday night's Game 6 against the Boston Bruins: 6-0.
That is starter Dwayne Roloson's(notes) record in elimination games throughout his NHL career, such as a Game 7 win back inside the very first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins in which he stopped all 36 shots he faced.
That game was played on April 27. Even though it feels like months ago.
Sean Bergenheim(notes) scored a objective in that game … and is doubtful for Game 6. The Lightning power play, that is gone a stone-cold 0-fer within the last 3 games against the Boston Bruins, scored four times in an 8-2 rout in Game five that sparked their rally against Pittsburgh.
But it is that series that the Lightning are hearkening back to as the Bruins seek to eradicate them and secure a spot within the Stanley Cup Finals against the Vancouver Canucks.
From the Tampa Tribune and Erik Erlendsson, the Lightning think they're ready to thrive on one more elimination night:
"The great factor is that, sadly, we're familiar with (facing elimination), it is just a matter of fine-tuning a couple of points as these games have hung inside the balance,'' defenseman Eric Brewer(notes) stated. "It's just a matter of obtaining that key objective or preventing that key objective.''
So anong masasabi ko sa laro ngayong gabi? aba malay ko, kayo alam nyo ba? Injuries are now mounting for the Lightning. Pavel Kubina has been out the whole series and now their unlikely scoring machine, Sean Begenheim, might miss this pivotal Game 6 with an undisclosed injury. Dwayne Roloson will look to recapture his postseason magic but as previously stated, I do not see Roloson heroically saving the series having a jaw dropping performance.
NHL odds are predicting that the Lightning will come out on leading tonight, and whilst the line remains low at -120, backing the Bruins at +100 can still make us a decent profit. 5Dimes is providing the the Bruins at +105.
Yes, the Lightning will have household ice benefit but the Bruins are beginning to impose their will with massive checks and additional physical play. If all issues are equal, the B’s have Tim Thomas between the pipes and whether or not it be Mike Smith or Dwayne Roloson, neither goalie is of Thomas’s caliber. Boston is 17-4 all-time when leading a series 3-2. I say that record goes to 18-4 right after Wednesday night.
John Ryan also backs the Bruins tonight, as he sees them performing nicely inside the Stanley Cup finals too.
My Pick: Para sa akin Boston ang mananalo. Makikipagpustahan ako ng isang bucket ng yelo, o ano laban ka?