Tampa Bay Lightning Topple Bruins In Season Finale

I know that a lot of fans of the Tampa Bay Lighting were dreading the scenario that would have the team face the Boston Bruins in the upcoming playoffs. Based on the game tonight at the Amalie Arena, I submit that a playoff series between these two would have been fantastic.

The Tampa Bay Lightning won in a shootout by a score of 3 to 2. Yes you read that right, a shootout victory by the good guys. Oh, on a side note, Boston was eliminated from the playoffs with about eight minutes left in regulation as the Pittsburgh Penguins shut out the hapless Buffalo Sabres.

Without a doubt there is some serious dislike, perhaps even downright hatred between these two. There is also some recent history, like the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals that went seven games. Remember, the Bolts lost game 7 in Boston by a score of 1-0. But I digress.

Tonight was game four of the regular season between these two. They split four games wining two apiece. Each team won a 3-2 shootout victory in their home arena. Boston won 4-3 earlier in the season at home and Tampa won 5-3 last month at the Amalie Arena. Tampa outscored Boston 13-12 over the four games. But a playoff series was not to be.

This victory was sweet for the Bolts because their normal scorers were held in check and like much of this season, the next man steps up. Tonight, Jonathan Drouin was scratched with an undisclosed illness so Jonathan Marchessault opens the scoring tonight in the second period to give the Lightning a 1 to 0 lead.

The cheering for Marchessault’s goal had not died down in sold out Amalie, when the Bruins answered the call as Loui Eriksson batted a floating puck 15 seconds later to tie the game at one. Game on. The Tampa Bay Lightning was premature in putting the Stanley Cup Playoffs Logo on the ice which seemed to give both teams a little extra incentive tonight.

Clearly, playing for their playoff lives, the Bruins did not need any extra push, but the Tampa Bay Lightning was also playing for first place in the Atlantic Division. Sure the Bolts needed the Maple Leafs to beat the Canadiens, which did not happen.

Going into the third period, with the game still tied at one, the pace got faster and the hits were stronger. Neither team was giving an inch. A little over five minutes in the final period, Nikita Nesterov blasted a shot from the blue line which appeared to deflect off Bruins player Adam McQuaid that flew past Boston goalie, Tuukka Rask to give Tampa a 2 to 1 lead.

As the game went on, the Bruins looking up at the scoreboard saw that Pittsburgh beat Buffalo and they were eliminated. Credit the visitors tonight because they could have easily phoned it in during the last eight minutes of the third when they knew they were no longer playing for the post season. They did not quit and with a little over a minute left in regulation they tied the game at two as Lightning nemesis, Brad Marchand scored.

After a scoreless overtime period, they headed to a shootout. Have to admit it was surprising to see Coach Jon Cooper open the shootout lineup with Brenden Morrow who was stopped by Rask. After Patrice Bergeron was stoned by Ben Bishop, Victor Hedman scored on a wrister past Rask to give Tampa a one goal shootout lead.

David Krejci failed next for Boston as did Ryan Callahan for the Lightning. It was up to Eriksson who scored in the second period. As he skated in on Bishop from the left side, he tried a back hand that Bishop read all the way and made a fairly easy stop to ice the game. Bishop, who already owns the franchise record for wins, upped his total to 40 for the season. The Tampa Bay Lightning won their 50th game of the season.

Up next for the Tampa Bay Lightning is the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs. Lightning won the season series three games to one. Stay connected with Bolts By The Bay for all your playoff information.

Next: 10 Reasons Why We Will Win The Stanley Cup

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