The Bruins had heard how improved the Tampa Bay Lightning were this season.

Well, that improvement is no longer a rumor, as Boston learned about it the hard way tonight in Tampa.

Nine different Lightning players registered one point in a 3-1 win over the Bruins, who have now lost two in a row.

Here’s a glance at the box score:

•Steven Stamkos scored his 20th goal of the season — in just the 21st game of Tampa Bay’s season.

•Mike Smith made 26 saves in goal for the Lightning. Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask got off to a slow start but finished with 33 saves.

•Old Patrice Bergeron nemesis Randy Jones was a plus-3 with an assist for Tampa Bay on defense.