TAMPA — There haven't been too many games like this one for the Bruins this season. The Tampa Bay Lightning played with a sense of urgency and posted a 4-0 win on Tuesday at Amalie Arena. It was only the third time this season the Bruins were held scoreless.
"We had some 'C' games tonight, we really did," said Bruce Cassidy. "Not enough 'A' games to beat a hungry team in that type of battle. There were guys that needed to be better and they weren't."
Tuukka Rask, who entered the game with a 10-0-1 record in his last 11 games, was not sharp and the Lightning took advantage. After a scoreless first period, Boston had chances early, but couldn't capitalize and Rask was unable to make the timely saves.
"If we could've fought through there (in the second period) and got a save or two early on, maybe we find our game," said Bruce Cassidy. "They had more urgency than we did."
Everything else you need to know from the Bruins' loss in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis.
HEADLINES
Top of the heap: With the victory, the Lightning are now tied with the Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division with 110 points each. It was only the third time this season Boston was held scoreless.
Mac's back: After missing 15 games with a sprained MCL in his left knee, Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy returned to the lineup and was reunited with Zdeno Chara on the top pair. When he first suffered the injury on March 3 against the Montreal Canadiens, McAvoy's goal was to return the final week of the regular season in order to prepare for the Stanley Cup playoffs. He has three more games to shake the rust. Still, he finished with 21:23 of ice time and was minus-2.
"I thought he was good," Cassidy said. "There's always room for improvement, but having not played you lose a bit of your crispness with your execution, but he was moving well. He got into battles and didn't look tentative, so that's good. We'll see how he is the next game, but we need him to be the player he was and I'm sure the next game he'll get a little better feel and go from there."
Seeing rubber: Rask didn't have his best performance. It didn't help that Tampa fired a total of 36 shots on the Bruins goalie. He will start his final regular-season game against the Florida Panthers on Thursday at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. The Bruins have back-to-back games on home ice this weekend and backup Anton Khudobin is scheduled to play both of those games, unless Rask wants one more game before the playoffs.
Tonight’s @SonnysBBQ goal of the game: Point lets it loose from the top of the circle. #BOSvsTBL pic.twitter.com/RJ4eMOAqG0
— x - Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 4, 2018
CHRIS KUNITZ BURIES THE LOOSE PUCK TO PUT THE LIGHTNING UP 3! pic.twitter.com/b6LVWqLOEw
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) April 4, 2018
J.T. has this handled. ? #BOSvsTBL pic.twitter.com/QctN5L7jPX
— x - Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 4, 2018