from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe,

Impressive win, 4-1, by the Bruins Thursday over Tampa Bay, though it needs to be noted once more that it was the third game in four nights for the Lightning, who also played the night before at Madison Square Garden. The runaway favorites for the Presidents’ Trophy (best regular-season record) began to peter out at the 10-minute mark of the first period and the Bruins gained momentum before finally scoring their three-goal knockout punch midway through the third.

Would it be different if they meet again in, say, Round 2 of the postseason? It’s hockey, so good luck figuring out puck bounces or final scores. But there’s no question the Bolts will be better rested and better prepared than the tired club that showed up on Causeway for its 65th game of the season.

Keep in mind, after dropping the opening game of Round 2 to the Bruins last spring, the Lightning ran the table with four straight wins. Sure, had the referees been sharper in Game 4, and called the Bolts for interfering with Charlie McAvoy, the series could have stood at 2-2 going back to Tampa. But there was little question, Tampa was the better team, particularly when judged on scoring depth, and the Bruins graded “N.I.” — needs improvement — for overall roster talent.

What would give Bruce Cassidy and crew cause to think it would be different in the 2019 postseason?

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