The Boston Bruins odds to make the NHL playoffs and win the Eastern Conference have tumbled in recent weeks. Where are they now?

The Bruins look to end their five-game winning drought as they travel to Florida to take on the Lightning Thursday in the first meeting this season between the two teams.

Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups.

Special teams goals can provide huge momentum boosts, and the offense the Lightning penalty kill has provided this season has been truly game-changing. Thursday night against Boston, the Lightning were locked in a scoreless tie halfway through the game,

With the rut that the luckless Bruins are stuck in, even their mothers can’t pull them out of it. With the Moms along for the ride on the annual family trip, the B’s furious third-period comeback attempt fell short and their losing streak stretched to six (0-5-1) with a 4-1 loss to the Lightning in Tampa.

For this contest against the Lightning, the Bruins will be going with goaltender Jeremy Swayman as their starter. Swayman, 26, played in the Bruins' last contest against the Oilers. While the Bruins lost,