This story originally ran in BruinsZone.com on May 14, 2011.

By Nick Tavares

After many, many days of speculation and nervous twitching, the Bruins will host the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight (8 p.m. / TV: Vs., CBC / Radio: 98.5 FM) in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. This will be Tampa’s first trip to a conference final since winning the Stanley Cup in 2004, while Boston has not been this late into May since 1992, when they were dispatched by the eventual champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Bergeron skates, but no return yet

Patrice Bergeron skated this morning for the first time since leaving the ice during the third period of Game 4 vs. Philadelphia with a mild concussion. Reports have been positive on Bergeron all week, with the Bruins’ alternate captain showing up at facilities and appearing in good spirits.

Bergeron, of course, is not expected to suit up in this game or the next, but the Bruins’ Stanley Cup hopes are pinned on the center’s return.

McQuaid in, Kampfer close

Adam McQuaid, who missed the end of the Flyers series with a neck injury suffered when he missed Mike Richards on an attempted hit, is expected to be back in the lineup today. Meanwhile, rookie Steve Kampfer, out since the end of the regular season with a knee injury is skating with the team again, but he’s not expected to crack the top 6 while everyone is healthy.

Also skating with the Bruins’ Black Aces these days are Trent Whitfield, Jamie Arniel, Jordan Caron and Shane Hnidy. But look for these lines tonight:

Forwards
17 Lucic … 46 Krejci … 18 Horton
63 Marchand … 23 Kelly … 28 Recchi
19 Seguin … 49 Peverley … 73 Ryder
20 Paille … 11 Campbell … 22 Thornton

Defense
33 Chara … 44 Seidenberg
21 Ference … 55 Boychuck
12 Kaberle … 54 McQuaid

Goal
30 Thomas
40 Rask