Stamkos scores twice as Bolts down Bruins
The Lightning Captain netted a pair of goals, including the game-winner, in a 3-2 victory over Boston on Thursday
by Jacob Lynn / TampaBayLightning.com
The Lightning delivered one of their most important victories of the season on Thursday, defeating the Bruins 3-2 at Amalie Arena.
It was Steven Stamkos who led the way for the Bolts, scoring a pair of goals in Tampa Bay's second win of the season over their division rivals.
The Bolts did a good job limiting Boston's chances in the first period but still headed into intermission trailing by a goal.
The Bruins' lone shot on goal in the first 10 minutes ended up in the back of the Lightning's net. Brad Marchand tried a wraparound and although he didn't score, he popped the puck loose in the crease and Patrice Bergeron was there to fire it past Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Video: BOS@TBL: Stamkos buries PPG from the slot
Boston dominated the first half of the second period but the Lightning managed to weather the storm and flip momentum. With the Bolts on a power play midway through the period, Stamkos was left wide open in the slot and scored after Nikita Kucherov made a nice play behind the Boston net to get him the puck.
The power play seemed to energize the Lightning, as they had several opportunities down the stretch of the period to take the lead but were stymed by Tuukka Rask.
The Bolts' power play struck again early in the third period to take the lead. Moments after Kucherov was robbed of a goal on a diving save, he made a no-look pass to Brayden Point who fired a shot over Rask's shoulder to put Tampa Bay in front.
With less than five minutes remaining, Stamkos scored his second goal of the game to stretch the lead to stretch the lead to two. Stamkos forced a turnover at the blueline and shielded the puck from Bergeron before firing the shot past Rask.
John Moore pulled Boston back within a goal late but that would be as close as the Bruins would get.
Vasilevskiy was stellar in goal for Tampa Bay on Thursday, making 27 saves, including some key stops as the Bruins tried to extend their lead early in the second period.
Video: BOS@TBL: Point finishes off Kucherov's feed for PPG
The pair of goals extends Stamkos' goal scoring streak to four games. The Lightning captain has six goals over that span.
Thursday marked Tampa Bay's second win over their Atlantic Division rivals this season after they defeated the Bruins in a shootout in Boston in October. The loss also extends Boston's losing streak to five games.
Things don't get any easier for the Bolts, however, as they return to Amalie Arena on Saturday night to host the Capitals.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
BOS | 4:26 Patrice Bergeron (10) - Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy
2nd Period
TBL | 12:35 Steven Stamkos (12) - Nikita Kucherov - PPG
3rd Period
TBL | 4:07 Brayden Point (11) - Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman - PPG
TBL | 15:13 Steven Stamkos (13) - Unassisted
BOS | 16:45 John Moore (1) - Andres Bjork