Tampa Bay Lightning Power Back To Defeat Boston Bruins

The Tampa Bay Lightning powered back to defeat the Boston Bruins 6-3 in an afternoon matinee at the TD Garden in Boston.

Today’s afternoon matinee at the TD Garden in Boston definitely started out rough for the Tampa Bay Lightning and their fans, but as the game progressed the Bolts were able to find their legs and power back to defeat the Boston Bruins 6-3

If one were to say this afternoon’s game did not get off to the start the Tampa Bay Lightning wanted, they may be the master of the understatement. Just under three minutes into the game, the Boston Bruins would find themselves on the Power Play as Lightning defenseman Matt Carle would find himself in the penalty box for 2 minutes for Hooking Bruins center Ryan Spooner. In a matter of seconds, center David Krejci would strike first blood and the Bruins would take the early lead.

Just when you thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse, well…they did. Just after the halfway point in the period, the Tampa Bay Lightning would find themselves on the Penalty Kill once again as center Vladislav Namestnikov would head to the box for 2 minutes for Holding Ryan Spooner. (We are starting to see a pattern here.) Less than a minute later, the Bruins would extend their lead with a goal from right wing Loui Eriksson.

Needless to say, this was rather discouraging to many fans here in the Bolts Nation. No fan ever wants to watch their team go down 2-0 in the first period against a rival team in a house where they have consistently been dominated for many years. Thankfully, the Tampa Bay Lightning had a plan to dig themselves out of the whole they made for themselves and bring new life to this afternoon matinee.

At 15:42 in the first period, Tampa Bay Lightning center Brian Boyle would make his move, scoring his first goal of the 2015-16 season, and earn a get one back for the Bolts. We are rather impressed with the way Boyle has been playing as of late. The Hingham, Massachusetts native has really stepped up his game and could be a difference maker this season for the Lightning.

A matter of seconds later, the Bolts would find themselves on a Power Play of their own. As you can imagine, this is not exactly music to the ears of Tampa Bay Lightning fans. The Lightning has had their fair share of struggles on the Power Play so far this season, but the Lightning found a way to turn the fans’ frowns upside down in Beantown.

Seconds after Bruins center Patrice Bergeron made his way to the box for 2 minutes for goaltender interference, Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat would get his stick on a shot from his partner-in-crime Tyler Johnson and give the Tampa Bay Lightning a game-tying Power Play goal.

The second period would be a much better all-around experience for the Tampa Bay Lightning than the one they had experienced just a few short moments ago. It’s amazing what a twenty minute intermission can do for the determination and the fires of passion within the hearts of hockey players.

Things started out quite nicely for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bruins right wing David Pastrnak would attempt to pass the puck inside the Lightning defensive zone, but Lightning center Brian Boyle would break up the pace and race across the ice. On the breakaway, Boyle is able to fight off Pastrnak and sail towards Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask and slip the puck right through the five-hole.

As we mentioned a little earlier, Boyle is finding himself in a very interesting position as the season presses on. If things continue on the path they are on right now, we have a very distinct feeling this is going to be a pretty big year for the Lightning center.

Just after the halfway point in the second period, the Bruins would get themselves back in the game with a Power Play goal from right wing Loui Eriksson. Unfortunately for the Bruins, this newfound surge would not last very long.

Minutes later, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos would score his 500^th career point, giving the Lightning a 4-3 lead over the Bruins.

The third period would be the icing on the proverbial cake for the Tampa Bay Lightning and the end of a very long winning drought at the TD Garden. In the early moments of the period, Jonathan Drouin would score his first goal of the season, giving the young winger three points in the first three games of the season.

The final goal would come in the final five minutes of play. J.T. Brown would play the puck to the left of the Bruins net. After short battle, Harvard alum Alex Killorn would come away with the puck. Seeing Lightning center Valtteri Filppula in front of the net, Killorn directed the puck towards a rushing Filppula. The puck would soar through Rask and into the back of the net.

As you can imagine, Rask was not exactly pleased with the goal on the ice. The referees would review the play, but it was determined there was no distinctive kicking motion and the goal was deemed to be good. When the final buzzer sounded to end the game the Tampa Bay Lightning would defeat the Boston Bruins 6-3 making the Lightning 3-0 in their first three games of the season. The Bruins, on the other hand, head into the 2015-16 season with a 0-3 record.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning still have some work to do if they are going to find themselves in a favorable position at the conclusion of the season. There is one aspect of the Lightning’s game that saw some definite improvement today; namely, their Power Play.

The Tampa Bay Lightning had four opportunities with the man advantage today. Unlike many of the games that have come to pass before today’s afternoon matinee, the Lightning would capitalize on two of those opportunities. If the Lightning not have made these strides, the picture we have painted for you thus far would look quite different.

There is no denying the Tampa Bay Lightning has come a very long way from the position they found themselves in just a few seasons ago. If the Tampa Bay Lightning continue on their path, they will surely be headed for another date with destiny by season’s end.

The Lightning finish off their road trip with the back half of their back-to-back series as they head into the Joe Louis Arena to take on the Detroit Red Wings. This is the first times these two teams have met in the center of the ice since Game Seven of the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season where the Tampa Bay Lightning shut out the Red Wings 2-0 to advance to the next round.

Will the Tampa Bay Lightning be able to keep their momentum rolling and defeat the Red Wings in Hockeytown? We’ll find out in just a few short hours. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. EST. Are you ready to Be The Thunder?

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