The Tampa Bay Lightning went into the game without their leading scorer and their number one defenseman. Despite missing Victor Hedman and Tyler Johnson, the Bolts played well at times but ran out of gas in the third period and fell to the Boston Bruins 4-3.
The first period was a tentative one for both teams. At 9:23 Steven Stamkos scored his 24th goal from Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat. Palat found Stamkos at the same right post, the same one that he broke is leg on in the last visit to TD Garden in November of 2013. Last week, Stamkos said he had a “lot more to give.” It was Stamkos’ fourth goal in his last five games. So much for the slump.
Boston’s Brad Marchand tied the game on a Mark Barberio turnover created by a bad line change during a delayed penalty at 16:42. The assists went to Carl Soderberg and Torey Krug.
The first period ended 1-1 with the Lightning out-shooting the Bruins 9-8.
The Bolts really picked up the pace in the second period and it led to Steven Stamkos‘ second goal of the night, his 25th. Nikita Nesterov earned his first NHL point as he found Palat who hit Stamkos in the slot who fired a bullet into the top corner past Tuuka Rask at 10:55. Needless to say that Stamkos has found his mojo again. It is his sixth consecutive year with 25+ goals.
At 15:24 the Bruins tied the score on David Pastrnak‘s third goal of the season assisted by Milan Lucic and Kevan Miller.
With less than a minute left in the period Lucic gave Boston a 3-2 lead on a three on two backhander that was kicked into the net by the Bolts Anton Stralman. The goal, Lucic’s ninth was assisted by David Krejci and Dennis Seidenberg.
The Bolts trailed in shots at this point 18-14.
The Bolts were 0-12-1 when trailing after two periods and the Bruins were 15-1-1 when leading.
Early in the third period Pastrnak scored his second of the game on a wrap-around after the Bolts failed to clear the zone. Krug and Krejci got the assists.
At 4:03, after Stamkos flipped the puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty, Zdeno Chara boarded Matt Carle and butt ended Cedric Paquette who was called for roughing, earning six minutes in the box. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay could not connect on the ensuing power play.
In a strange turn of events J.T. Brown got into a fight with David Krejci…yes, Krejci at 9:34.
At 14:18, Ryan Callahan scored his 14th on a deflection of a Mark Barberio shot that brought the Lightning to within one. Alex Killorn earned an assist on the play.
Despite the Bolts having a 1-0 and 2-1 lead, they fell to the Bruins for the ninth consecutive time. Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask has beaten the Lightning seven straight times.
Shots were in favor of Boston 34-19.
Vladislav Namestnikov was recalled for the game. He had played 23 games with the Bolts this season, scored three goals and four assists before being returned to Syracuse on December 3rd.
Radko Gudas (knee surgery), Tyler Johnson (lower body), Victor Hedman (lower body) and Brett Connolly (healthy) were the scratches.
After losing their second straight, the Lightning host the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night.
(Feature Photo/Getty Images)
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