Tampa Bay Lightning defeat Boston Bruins to advance to Eastern Conference Final

The Tampa Bay Lightning takes care of business against the Boston Bruins and advances to the Eastern Conference Final.

The Tampa Bay Lightning finished off the Boston Bruins in spectacular fashion to advance to the Eastern Conference Final after a 3-1 win in Game 5.

Amalie Arena was electric from the moment the puck dropped to when the teams shook hands to conclude the series. Apparently, the Lightning has many more than the seven fans the “experts” claim they have. Surprise, right?

The game started physical for the Lightning, and it seemed as if the Bolts have control of the game. After two missed opportunities on the Power Play, the Bruins have a chance with a 5-on-3 opportunity.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The initial penalty called on Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi was killed off, but the Lightning wasn’t quite as lucky when it came to the Tripping penalty against forward Cedric Paquette. This would give the Bruins the early lead with a goal from Bruins forward David Krejci.

According to history, the team who scored first has always emerged victoriously. The Lightning had a lot to overcome if they wanted to bend history to their will and advance to the next round.

In the second, the Bolts looked to tie the game back up. A little over halfway through the game, Brayden Point backhands the puck past Tuukka Rask to tie the game at one.

Not long after, Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron is called for Tripping, and the Bolts had another chance on the Power Play. This time, the team took advantage of it. Lightning forward J.T. Miller passes back and forth with Nikita Kucherov and is able to fool Rask for the game lead.

It seemed after the Bolts took the lead, the Bruins lost steam. The division rival no longer had the same drive as before. This lack of drive opened the door for Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman to hit the empty net and solidify the win for the Bolts.

Takeaways from the Game

After winning four in a row this round, the initial 6-2 loss in Game 1 means absolutely nothing. One game does not prove anything and our team shined bright the next four to take down the Bruins.

The Lightning has a huge advantage now. The team gets to sit and watch the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins matchup, giving them time to analyze their opponent. The Bolts have only played ten games so far, five in each round, which no other team can say they have done.

Personally, I am glad we no longer have to worry about any licking incidents. After Game Four’s fiasco involving Brad Marchand licking Ryan Callahan, it is nice to know the Bolts don’t have to look out for tongues anymore.

In the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights advance in six over the San Jose Sharks. The Winnipeg Jets have a 3-2 series lead over the Nashville Predators.

Next: Brad Marchand Gets A Taste of Ryan Callahan (Video)

The Tampa Bay Lightning will sit and wait for its schedule, which will be determined once the Capitals and Penguins decide who wants to take on the Bolts in the Eastern Conference Final. The Capitals currently have a 3-2 lead in the series.