(Sports Network) - The surging Boston Bruins will aim for their sixth victory in seven games when they welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning for tonight's clash at TD Garden.

The Bruins have recorded a point in each of their last six games, going 5-0-1 over that stretch. Thanks to the hot streak, Boston has now moved within one point of Buffalo for first place in the Northeast Division.

Boston recorded a close win Saturday against visiting Ottawa. Michael Ryder scored the game-winning goal in the fourth round of the shootout, as the Bruins scored three power-play goals to edge the Senators, 4-3, the Garden.

After the first three rounds of the shootout went scoreless, Ryder skated towards the net and fired a wrister under the crossbar. Tim Thomas sealed the victory when he stopped Mike Fisher's backhander.

Ryder also scored during regulation for the Bruins, who went 3-for-5 on the power play. David Krejci and Dennis Wideman each had a goal and an assist for Boston.

Thomas stopped 19-of-22 shots in his return to the lineup after missing the previous six games due to an undisclosed injury.

"Obviously, I was hoping that we just won in overtime. Then when we got to the shootout, I was just, in my mind, trying to prepare myself to win that shootout any possible way I could. Like if it went 20 shooters to win," said Thomas.

Tonight marks the finale of a three-game homestand for the Bruins, who are 7-5-3 as the host on the year. Boston ended a three-game home losing streak with the recent victory over Ottawa.

In other news, the Bruins signed Marc Savard to a seven-year contract extension on Tuesday. The deal, which is reported to be worth in excess of $28 million, will keep the centerman in Boston through the 2016-17 season. Savard has four goals and six assists in 11 games this year and has led the Bruins in scoring in each of the past three seasons.

The Lightning have been sliding lately, losing two straight, three of four and five of their last seven games. Tampa Bay was last in action Monday against visiting Colorado and was dealt a shutout loss. Rookie Matt Duchene scored twice and Craig Anderson made 33 saves to record his third shutout of the season, as the Avalanche downed the Bolts, 3-0, at St. Pete Times Forum.

Antero Niittymaki turned in a solid performance stopping 26-of-28 shots for the Lightning.

"We had three early power plays and we didn't get anything accomplished," Lightning forward Martin St. Louis said. "That falls on me. I'm out there quite a bit. I wasn't sharp early on and that hurt the team."

The Lightning are kicking off a two-game road trip tonight and will play eight games away from home over their next 11 contests. Tampa has lost three of its last four on the road and is 4-5-4 as the visiting club this season.

Boston won three out of four meetings with the Lightning last year and has taken nine of the last 12 matchups overall. Tampa has also been defeated in five of its last six trips to Beantown.