"We know we're a better team, we know we can play better," coach Claude Julien told the Bruins' official website. "I'm certainly not criticizing our team for how they played because they still battled through. We didn't have our legs, so it's not because they didn't want to, but certainly Saturday's game I'm looking for our team to be better and hopefully we'll have gotten into our groove at home."
The Bruins are 5-1-1 at home despite going 0 for 26 on the power play.
Their current overall run includes last Thursday's 4-2 win at Tampa Bay. Boston didn't have one power play in that contest, but its league-best penalty kill snuffed out three Lightning opportunities and Nathan Horton scored twice at even strength.
"That's what we've got to aim for, beat that kind of team," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said that night.
Tampa Bay (9-10-1) is desperate for a win against anybody following three consecutive regulation defeats. Multiple Lightning players called Thursday's 4-1 road loss to the New York Rangers "embarrassing" after the team was outshot 35-11 in the first two periods.
"I don't really know what to say," said star forward Steven Stamkos, who had a six-game goal streak snapped. "Guys aren't competing hard enough, and they wanted it more than us.
"It's getting to a point where it's embarrassing. We talk about work ethic, but it's not there right now."
The Lightning are 3-9-1 since their promising 6-1-0 start, and they're 3-6-0 on the road following the first stop on a challenging trip that continues in Pittsburgh and New Jersey next week.
They may catch somewhat of a break Saturday if the Bruins opt to start Anton Khudobin in net. Tuukka Rask has played throughout Boston's win streak, posting a 1.38 goals-against average, but he could get a rest with an eye toward Sunday night's matchup with archrival Montreal.
Khudobin has made eight NHL starts and has never played in a home game for the Bruins.
Goaltending continues to be a problem for the Lightning. Anders Lindback gave up four goals on 26 shots against Boston last week and has not played since being pulled after one period of Sunday's 5-3 loss at Pittsburgh.
His 3.27 GAA ranks among the worst in the NHL, but Mathieu Garon hasn't been any better at 3.31 while losing five of his last six starts


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