2011 NHL Playoffs: 4 Reasons the Tampa Bay Lightning Will Win Game 7

Tomorrow night, the Tampa Bay Lightning will face the Boston Bruins at 8 p.m. The Lightning forced the Game 7 with its 5-4 win in Game 6.

Tampa Bay came into this series as the underdogs, and some would argue that it still is for Game 7. Many people would give Boston the advantage, as it had a better record during the season and has home-ice advantage for this game.

However, I believe that the Tampa Bay Lightning will defeat the Bruins and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Here are the four reasons why the Lightning will win Game 7.

2010-11 Season Series Against Boston

Elsa/Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 02: Goaltender Mike Smith #41 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is replaced by Dan Ellis #33 in the third period against the Boston Bruins on December 2, 2010 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Lightning 8-1

This is the first time the two franchises have played each other in the playoffs, so there is no outcome of past series to use in the predictions.

We will just look at this past year, since so many factors have changed from last season to this season.

Boston took the season series 3-1 and won both of its home games. Boston outscored Tampa during the regular season 15-8.

However, Tampa's goaltenders for all of those games were Mike Smith (1-2) and Dan Ellis (0-1), not Dwayne Roloson.

Dwayne Roloson vs. Tim Thomas

Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - MAY 25: Dwayne Roloson #35 of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes a save against the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at St Pete Times Forum on May 25, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. (Pho

Dwayne Roloson has a winning record against Boston, 5-2-2. Tim Thomas also has a winning record against Tampa Bay, 10-4.

Roloson's statistics against Boston are a little better than Thomas' against Tampa.

Roloson has a .941 save percentage and 1.97 goals against average in nine career games against Boston.

Tim Thomas has a .930 save percentage and 2.26 GAA against Tampa.

Roli also has the better record in elimination games and Game 7s. He is 7-0 in elimination games, 4-0 this postseason. Two of those wins came in Game 7s, where he posted a 1.00 GAA, one shutout and a .968 save percentage.

Thomas on the other hand, is 1-2 in Game 7s, with a 3.23 GAA and .899 save percentage.

Boston Bruins in Game 7

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 27: Gregory Campbell #11 of the Boston Bruins battles Mathieu Darche #52 of the Montreal Canadiens in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 27, 2011 in Boston,

The Boston Bruins franchise, being one of the Original Six teams, has been around a lot longer than the still young Tampa Bay franchise.

Thus, Boston has had the chance to play in many more Game 7s than the Lightning.

Boston is 10-10 in Game 7s. If we narrow it down to the time period that the Lightning has been in existence, the Bruins are 2-4 in Game 7s.

Boston also played a seven-game series in the first round, when it beat the Montreal Canadiens at home in Game 7.

Boston could have the advantage historically, having played more Game 7s, but the Lightning franchise has the advantage statistically.

Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 27: Dwayne Roloson #35 of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes a save on Pascal Dupuis #9 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on

The Tampa Bay Lightning has played in three Game 7s prior to tomorrow night. It has never lost a Game 7.

The first two it won en route to its 2004 Stanley Cup win. It played both of those games with the home-ice advantage.

This year, the Lightning faced the Pittsburgh Penguins in a Game 7 in Pittsburgh and won that one as well, bringing its Game 7 record to 3-0.