Top 10 Games Countdown: No. 4

Our look back at the top 10 games of 2019-20 is brought to you by Mimecast.
BostonBruins.com - It had been nearly three months since the top two teams in the Eastern Conference squared off, leading to much anticipation for the season's penultimate matchup between the Bruins and Lightning.
The game lived up to the hype.
Jake DeBrusk, without a point in his previous 10 games, notched the eventual winner with a slick finish off a breakaway at 10:02 of the second period. The tally put the Bruins up by two and helped the Black & Gold hold off a late Lightning surge en route to a 2-1 victory at Amalie Arena on March 3.

The win also extended Boston's Atlantic Division lead over Tampa to 9 points, ahead of the team's final meeting of the season just four days later.
"It's definitely an important game," said Torey Krug, who assisted on Brad Marchand's first-period marker. "I think both teams knew going into it that it was gonna be a good matchup, a fun one, a close game. For us to go up 9 points especially before Saturday's game when we play them again, it's definitely an important 2 points to collect."

Notable Quotes

DeBrusk on breaking his scorless drought:"Anytime it goes in the net, it's a good feeling. I haven't seen that in a while. It's always nice, kind of just the play overall. That's kind of what I want to be, use my speed and effort. Was just nice to contribute.
"I tried to fake him out and just raise it. Haven't had too many Grade As, so knew I had to make a good move on it. I thought I had time. Definitely surprised it went in the net."
Marchand on scoring despite playing through illness:"That's actually the first time when I was sick that I did anything decent in a game. Normally you're more of a liability, but it's just great that we won. It was obviously a big game and they're a good team. Great that we showed up.
"I don't think I've played 14 minutes in 10 years. Tried to keep the shifts short. Felt bad for Bergy and Pasta having to put up with me, but we got it done. It was a good win."
Tuukka Rask on the team's defensive effort:"Awesome, same thing we continued from Long Island. Both ends of the ice, being above the puck at all times. Even when we got caught in our own end a couple times, but we managed to sort it out and defend the middle. A great defensive game."
Bruce Cassidy on the Bruins winning an offside challenge in the first period: "Got a break from a post, got an offside break, where we got one of those that went our way to help us win a game. [Rask was] good when he had to be. I thought their goalie [Andrei Vasilevskiy] was excellent as well. It's two Vezina Trophy candidates in my estimation. You expect them to be good and they were."

By the Numbers

• DeBrusk, playing in his 200th career game, scored for the first time since Feb. 8, a span of 11 games. It was his 19th goal of the season.
• Marchand's opening tally with 55 seconds left in the first period was the 290th goal of his career, moving him past Ken Hodge for seventh place on the Bruins' all-time list.
• The Lightning had a goal wiped off the board following an offside challenge at 5:24 of the first. The marker would have tied the game at 1.

Video: BOS@TBL: DeBrusk beats Vasilevskiy on the break

The Countdown

No. 10 | Bruins 4, Islanders 0:
Hometown Boy McAvoy Lifts Bruins on Long Island
No. 9 | Bruins 2, Hurricanes 0:
Halak Picks Up Shutout in 500th Career Game
No. 8 | Bruins 4, Ducks 2:
Pastrnak Makes History with Four-Goal Game
No. 7 | Bruins 2, Blackhawks 1:
McAvoy's First Lifts B's to OT Win in Chicago
No. 6 | Bruins 2, Flyers 0:
Rask Notches 50th Career Shutout as B's Cool Flyers
No. 5 | Bruins 8, Canadiens 1:
Pastrnak Picks Up Hat Trick As B's Thrash Habs