It's a do or die situation for the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight as they host the Boston Bruins for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The opening face-off is scheduled for 8:00 EDT, and will be televised nationally on Versus.
After starting back-up goalie Mike Smith in Game 5, Lightning Head Coach Guy Boucher will have Dwayne Roloson start once again in between the pipes for Game 6. Coach Boucher has been tight lipped about any type of changes over the course of the playoffs, and our Boston site Stanley Cup of Chowder wonders why he would openly talk about the switch,
While most hockey fans probably could have guessed that the Lightning would go back to Rolie The Goalie for Game 6, I am confused why Boucher (or any coach) would not keep his decision under-wraps until game day. The Bolts choice of goaltender does not really change the Bruins' game plan, but the B's now know a day earlier what to expect between the pipes.
While we know who will start in goal for Tampa Bay, the status of Sean Bergenheim for Game 6 is still in doubt. Bergenheim left in the first period of Game 5 with an apparent groin injury and did not return to the game. J.B. Long of Bright House Sports Network reported that Bergenheim did participate in today's morning skate in sweats, but don't expect anything concrete about his status until minutes before tonight's game. If Bergenheim can't make it, Coach Boucher has a tough decision according to Raw Charge,
With Isberg being out, Coach Boucher has to wonder if going with the 11/7 roster split is ideal for tonight (and playing an injured Randy Jones) or if the Bolts should play both Tyrell and Blair Jones and the more typical 12-forward, 6 defenseman roster split.
Game Notes:
- Bruins Rookie Winger Tyler Seguin will dress tonight. Seguin's minutes have dropped considerably after his 4-point effort in Game 2.
- The Lightning will "charge" the Garrison Channel before the game tonight as they dump 36 gallons of blue dye in the water. They will also be giving away a pair of Channelside Club tickets before the game.
- In each of the two even numbers games so far this series, the team who failed to score first in Games 2 and 4 have come back to win.