B’s Win in Ten Rounder

Tampa, Fla. — It ended with the shootout that went forever as Tuukka Rask and Andrei Vasilevskiy stole the show.

The Lightning took to the ice pregame warm up donning their lavender and grey jerseys to support the fight against cancer.             #Hockeyfightscancer night

The first period opened up with the Bruins gaining puck possession and being favored in the shots on goal count. The Boston persistence paid as it resulted in a goal at 4:01 by defenseman #25 Brandon Carlo with the assist from #37 Alternate Captain Patrice Bergeron for the Bruins to take the lead at 1-0.

JT Brown commits a high sticking penalty at 7:17 to give the Bruins the first power play of the game, a four minute one at that. The Bolts held their own for about 3:30 minutes but then the Bruins struck with their second goal of the game. Scored by #51 Ryan Spooner and assist to #47 Torey Krug and #46 David Krejci.  The goal was challenged by the Lightning, but it stood. The power play goal was challenged by Coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning but the NHL official ruling was inconclusive, so the Bolts were charged with a time out and play continued with Bruins now in the lead 2-0. Not a good number, but a familiar one for the Bolts at home.

The Lightning’s first big break came at 14:07 in the first, when Adam McQuaid commited a high sticking penalty. Here is an opportunity to put a dent in the 2-0 lead. Steven Stamkos walked one in right up to the crease but Tuukka Rask got a piece of it and it went out of play. Seconds later Nikita Kucherov rang one off the post and Victor Hedman followed up with a rocket to score the Bolts first goal of the game. The assist would go to Nikita Kucherov and Valterri Filppula at 15:09 in the first period.  The lead is cut in half to 2-1.

The crowd inside the “Oil Can” was now alive and being entertained with a little “Taking Care of Business.”

Just minutes into the second period and the puck goes by Tuukka Rask, the goal horn sounds, the cheers ring out only to be retracted! No goal, the puck was kicked in the net, I repeat no goal! Play continued 2-1 Bruins.

Boston continued to dominate with puck possession in the second period and after 3 nice saves, they get one by #88 Andrei Vasilevskiy to score their third goal of the game. Their persistence once again paid off and the goal was scored by ironically #88 David Pastrnak, with the assist from #37 Patrice Bergeron and #63 Brad Marchand.

At 6:32 in the second former Bolt and Harvard alum #28 Dominic Moore would commit a two minute minor for holding. Fan favorite #9 Tyler Johnson would capitalize on the power play chance with his 3^rd goal of the season at 8:30, with the assist from #91 Steven Stamkos and #6 Anton Stralman. Although the Lightning were chasing the Bruins, with the score was now 3-2 and the crowd was back in the game.

The Bolts would get their third attempt at a power play goal, and a chance to tie the game at 15:52 in the second period, but were only able to get two shots off on their third power play, the score remained 3-2 Boston.

The second period came to an end with a little fisticuffs, behind the Bruins net. A little bit of everybody was involved, setting up a third period to look forward to.

More than halfway through the third period #29 Slater Koekkoek sets up a nice feed to #55 Braydon Coburn and #9 Tyler Johnson tips it in for the Bolts third goal of the game. The score was now tied 3-3 with just eight minutes left. Koekkoek looks like a nice addition to the Bolts defense.

Both teams continued to battle it out each looking determined to get the go ahead goal. Crowd attendance was to capacity and love to make some noise! Most definitely a fun place to be on a Thursday night.

The game horn sounded and the tie would have to broken in overtime, time for some 3 on 3 hockey! Hedman, Stamkos and Kuckerov would be first on the ice for the boys in blue. A couple of excellent scoring chances, but Tuukka Rask robbed them of their chances. Then the Bolts would go on a power play, now some 4 on 3 hockey! Tyler Johnson would be joining the trio on the ice. An unsuccessful power play attempt as Point, Killorn and Stralman would make an attempt at an overtime goal. With just 3 seconds left in overtime #18 Palat would take a holding penalty to give the Bruins a man advantage. The Bruins were staved off, and now we move on to a shoot out!

The Goalie would be the stars of the shootout.  Only three goals in twenty shooters. Finally all the way to the tenth round Bruins #11 Jimmy Hayes beat Andrei Vasilevskiy glove side to close it out for the Bruins.  Riley Nash also scored for Boston and Brayden Point for Tampa Two points to Boston, one to Tampa.

The fun picks up again Saturday night as the Lightning host the New Jersey for the second time this year.

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