Lightning strike Bruins for fifth straight loss

TAMPA, FL — The Lightning struck three times on Thursday, but Steven Stamkos did twice, and it was the difference maker.

Looking to avoid their fifth straight defeat, and fourth in regulation, the Bruins charged out of the game better than they did for the bulk of their losing streak, but once again faltered late, surrendering two goals in the third period to fall to the Lightning, 3-2.

The Bruins performed well in their loss to Washington the night before, but kick off their three-game road trip with losses in the first two contests where perhaps they deserved a better fate.

Sparked perhaps by the second Zdeno Chara bout in as many days — this time, it was former St. Louis Blue Pat Maroon — the Bruins put forth one of their better opening frames in this recent stretch.

This Patrice Bergeron goal counted.

Like on Wednesday night when he had a power play goal called back in Washington, Bergeron netted the rebound. This one stayed on the board for a 1-0 Bruins lead following Brad Marchand taking it behind the net and whipping it on net, while Bergeron put it in to put the Bruins ahead 4:26 into the game.

The Lightning didn’t strike until the second period. With 7:25 to go, John Moore, back in the lineup after being made a scratch on Wednesday, committed his second penalty of the night to send the Bolts back to the man advantage.

Steven Stamkos needed just six seconds to fire in his 12th goal of the season from inside the faceoff circle, beating Tuuka Rask five-hole, to make it a 1-1 contest.

Moore did not see the ice again the rest of the second following his second tripping penalty.

Moments after Rask made one of the best saves of the season, the Lightning took the lead for the first time all game. With 15:53 left and Sean Kuraly in the penalty box, the Lightning power play struck again. Brayden Point was parked in front of the crease and potted his 11th tally of the season.

A couple of minutes before, Jake DeBrusk was shoved into the net on a near-breakaway, but the Bruins didn’t get a call; instead, Kuraly got called in the neutral zone a bit later, giving the Bolts their second goal on the man advantage.

The Bruins power play woes, however, continued late in the third when they didn’t take advantage of a Stamkos hooking penalty.

With 15:13 gone in the third, Tampa put it away with Stankos’ second goal of the night. He took it in the neutral zone and shot around body contact from Moore and still wristed it over Rask’s shoulder to take a two-goal lead.

Moore found the scoreboard with 3:15 left, coming down low and poking it in off a pass from Anders Bjork behind the net to make it a one-goal contest again.

The Bruins finish their three-game road trip on Saturday in Sunrise against the Panthers.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2YIChrY