Tampa Bay Lightning drops Game 1 to the Boston Bruins

The Tampa Bay Lightning had a rough start to Round 2, dropping their first meeting with the Boston Bruins 6-2.

After a week rest, the Tampa Bay Lightning was ready to start Round 2 of the playoffs against a familiar foe, the Boston Bruins. However, it seemed Boston was ready too. The Lightning dropped the first game of the series, 6-2.

It seemed like an even playing field from the start. The play kept going back and forth, and both goalies were unstoppable. However, when Ryan Callahan is called for tripping, Bruins forward Rick Nash is able to score the first of the series.

Going into the second, the Bolts need to bring the energy back in order to get back in this game. But, Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron scores one early in the second, and it seems the game is getting away from the Lightning.

Ready for action, defenseman Dan Girardi shoots one from the point and brings the Bolts back within one. This is Girardi’s first of the playoffs. Then proceeds a game of back and forth on who is going to score next.

Rick Nash is able to snipe one past Andrei Vasilevskiy to score his second of the game and put the Bruins up 3-2. About a minute later, the Bruins take a penalty and give hope to the Lightning bench.

Right off the bat, the Bolts set up a play in the Bruins’ zone, and Mikhail Sergachev scores his second of the playoffs. Immediately after the play, Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask is upset and has his left skate blade in his hand.

During the penalty, Rask loses his skate in the crease and is unable to have a full range of motion during the play. Sergachev and the Lightning are able to get the puck in the net, as Rask is motioning to the refs that he can no longer move.

There was some debate as to whether the refs should have stopped the play or not. The NHL Public Relations Twitter released this statement.

After Rask got his skate fixed at the bench, the one-goal game was able to continue. Unfortunately, it did not stay a one-goal game for long.

In the third period, the Bruins were able to score three more times, including an empty net, to solidify a win in the series. Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and Jake DeBrusk all scored for the Bruins, to end the game at 6-2.

Takeaways from the game

The first thing I have to say is that this is only Game 1. We still have plenty of time to get back in this, and to win this series. No one should fret quite yet. However, the offense has to pick up. I saw a lot of potential in the J.T. Miller–Steven Stamkos–Nikita Kucherov line, and Bolts Nation needs that line to do something for us to win games.

Next: Crunch sweep Americans in Round 1 of Calder Cup Playoffs

Both Ondrej Palat and Brayden Point did not practice this morning. The Bolts will be back at home for Game Two on Monday, in hopes of tying this series at one.