Final: Bruins 4, Lightning 2 (3) -- Boston takes over first place in emotionally-charged victory

The Tampa Bay Lightning are no longer in first place in the Atlantic Division. They owned that spot since Oct. 19 but it now belongs to the Bruins.

With a 4-2 victory over the Lightning Thursday night at TD Garden, the Bruins now own the top spot in the division and the Eastern Conference with 107 points. It was an emotionally charged game from start to finish at both ends of the ice.



Observations from the first period

• Huge hit on Danton Heinen by Dan Girardi.


• Strong push by the Lightning in the opening minutes.


• Big block by Torey Krug on Stamkos.


• Boston's fourth line making its presence felt. A couple of big hits and block shot by Tommy Wingels.


• Heinen has found a new gear the last few games. Obvious he wants to stay in the lineup when everyone's healthy.


• This game has the same feeling as Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011. The Bruins won that game 1-0 and there were zero penalties called.


• Jinxed it. Game has its first penalty with Brayden Point going to the box for slashing. Bruins get the first PP of the game.


• Timely pinch by Krug to keep the puck in during the PP and nearly results in a Ryan Donato goal.


• Kevan Miller with a high-sticking penalty.


• Solid penalty kill by the Bruins, especially Brandon Carlo and Adam McQuaid.


• Brian Gionta crashing the net on a loose puck and takes out three players.


• Tim Schaller with one of the best all-around plays of late and finishes with a goal to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. Solid assist by Wingels too.


• Bruins going on their second PP.


• And just like that Boston capitalizes for a 2-0 lead. Pastrnak with the goal.


• Solid opening period for the Bruins.

• Gionta with a minor boarding penalty.


• And the Lightning capitalize on the power play to cut the deficit to 2-1.


• Miller and Grzelcyk are a solid defensive pair.


• Since the Bruins shut down the neutral zone on Tampa the last time these teams played, the Lightning are trying the stretch pass more often. It hasn't worked yet but it will one of these times.


• Donato with a penalty and the Lightning get another power play. It's his first NHL penalty.


• Tuukka Rask and Cory Conacher exchanging punches in front of the net. Andrei Vasilevskiy  went the length of the ice but the referee grabbed the Tampa goalie before he could engaged with Rask. I'm not sure why Vasilevskiy didn't get a penalty on that.


• Bruins end up with a 5-on-4 power play.


• But can't capitalize.


• Noel Acciari continues to sacrifice his body and comes up with a big block during the penalty kill.

•  Bruins need a better period to close out this one.


• The official score sheet now has Vasilevskiy getting an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for going the length of the ice.


• Goalies love logo saves.


• No goal. No doubt goalie interference on Rask.


• Pastrnak drops the gloves with Girardi after hit on Bergeron. No. 88 held his own.


• Acciari is hitting everything that moves tonight.


• Heads-up pass by Krug to a wide open Bergeron for a backdoor goal during a 4-on-4 to give the Bruins a 3-1 lead with 8:02 remaining in regulation.


• Terrible goal for Rask to allow as Victor Hedman's shot sneaks under the goalie's arm. Bruins 3-2 with under six to go.


• But then Rask makes an outstanding right-pad save on the ensuing play on McDonagh.


• Miller with explosive, break-away speed carries the puck out of the zone after the Lightning sustained pressure.


• Marchand adds the empty-netter.


• Acciari is fired up tonight.