While it's true that Boston made some terrific offensive zone plays in the 6-2 Game One win, this was the Bruins' best overall performance in the series. Their forecheck was aggressive and put pressure on the Lightning in the Tampa Bay defensive zone. The Bruins were also able to come out of their own end cleanly and maneuver pucks through the neutral zone more consistently than they had earlier in the series.
Given all of that, the fact that the Lightning didn't allow an even-strength goal in the game is a credit to how well they defended without the puck and the goaltending of Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy made a couple of early saves on David Pastrnak to keep the game scoreless before Brayden Point scored a highlight reel goal. After intercepting a puck in the neutral zone, Point zoomed into the Boston end, skated around Zdeno Chara and stuffed in a shot to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead at 4:36. Kucherov's top-shelf power play goal extended the Lightning lead at 9:53. But the Bruins worked their way back into the game with two power play goals of their own. The second of those, scored by Patrice Bergeron early in the middle period, fueled their attack. The Lightning had a couple of isolated Grade-A chances in the second (a Stamkos breakaway and an open look for Ryan Callahan), but Tuukka Rask made those saves. And outside of those Lightning oppotunities, the run of play in the frame belonged to the Bruins. They outshot the Lightning, 14-4, in the period. Understanding that the Bruins had some dynamic moments in Game One, this was their strongest period of the series. But thanks to some hard defending by the Lightning and Vasilevskiy's 13 saves, the Lightning got out of the period still tied at two.
At 6:36 of the third, the Lightning had a breakdown on Bergeron's shorthanded goal, a well-executed tally that gave the Bruins their first lead of the game. But, as a whole, the Lightning delivered a very solid third period performance, particularly after they fell behind. They repeatedly applied pressure on the Bruins, who, like the Lightning in the second period, defended tenaciously in front of Rask. But eventually, the Lightning broke through, tying the game on a Stamkos one-timer from the slot. The play began when Kucherov checked Charlie McAvoy behind the Boston net and forced a turnover. McAvoy fell down as he lost the puck to J.T. Miller, who quickly fed Stamkos for the tying goal. The Bruins felt a penalty should have been called on the play, but the officials disagreed.
Down the stretch in regulation, both teams had strong offensive zone shifts, but the better looks went to the Lightning. Rask made key stops on Ondrej Palat, Kucherov and Victor Hedman (twice) to keep the game tied.
Early in overtime, the Lightning endured a couple of tough shifts in the defensive zone. The Bruins maintained puck possession and the Lightning had a difficult time clearing the zone so they could change players. But as they did throughout the game, they hung in there with tight coverage. They forced a couple of Boston shot attempts wide and then Cedric Paquette produced an important block on a Chara shot. Eventually, the Lightning cleared the zone and moved the puck down the ice. Prior to Girardi's winner, Stamkos almost tipped in a point shot, but Rask made the save. On the next shift, the Tony Cirelli line brought the puck into the Boston end and won a puck battle along the boards. Yanni Gourde passed the puck to Alex Killorn, who backhanded it to the front of the net. It hit off Brian Gionta's skate, then off Girardi's stick and into the top of the net.
This was a hard-fought victory against a spirited opponent. The Lightning need to expect another tough game on Sunday in Game Five.
Lightning Radio Big Moment of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito):
Girardi's OT goal.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito):
