BSJ Game Report: Bruins 3, Lightning 2 - Halak, top line hold off Bolts as B's take early lead

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 3-2 win over the Lightning in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

HEADLINES

B's hold off Tampa behind Halak's strong showing: Tampa might have made things interesting over the final 11 minutes of regulation, but a three-goal deficit was too much for the Bolts to overcome on Sunday night — as the Bruins held on for a 3-2 victory over the Lightning in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Boston, which holds an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, built its lead off of goals from Charlie Coyle, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand — while Jaroslav Halak stopped 35 of the 37 shots that came his way in the win.

Even though Victor Hedman made things interesting in the third with a pair of tallies, Halak snuffed out Tampa's biggest push of the night in the second period, stopping all 18 shots that the Lightning peppered in against him — with Tampa holding a 30-6 edge in shot attempts against Boston after Pastrnak's power-play strike made it a 2-0 game just 4:34 into the middle frame.

That late-game push might give Tampa some momentum heading into Tuesday's rematch at Scotiabank Arena, but the Bruins have to be happy with their effort, especially with Bergeron's line gaining the edge against their defensive matchup in Anthony Cirelli — while special-teams play was once again tilted in Boston's favor (1-for-3 on the man advantage, 3-for-3 on PK duties).

Add in that Tampa's shutdown blueliner in Ryan McDonagh exited the contest in the third and did not return (Tampa coach Jon Cooper had no postgame update), and the Bruins have to be happy with where they are to open this heavyweight fight.

Bruins sign Vladar to extension: Ah yes, the classic mid-game extension! Shortly after the first period wrapped, the Bruins announced that they signed new backup goalie Dan Vladar to a three-year extension. 

The deal, which will represent a $750,000 annual cap hit at the NHL level, will keep the 23-year-old netminder locked in a two-way contract with the organization for the following two years, while the final year in 2022-23 will be a one-way contract. Good for Vladar, who impressed down in Providence this season and will be given additional time to develop in Boston's system for the foreseeable future. I wouldn't spend too much time reading the tea leaves when it comes to the timing of this deal — even if the exact time of the signing is quite interesting. This is far from a statement on Tuukka Rask's future or anything like that — with Boston ideally wanting Vladar and Jeremy Swayman to compete and battle one another down in the AHL ranks to open next season.

FOUR UP

Charlie Coyle: While his line struggled to develop quality looks consistently during 5v5 play, Coyle made the most of his ice time Sunday, deflecting Brandon Carlo’s shot from the blue line past Vasilevskiy to open the scoring in the closing minutes of the first period. Make that two deflection goals for Coyle already this postseason, following his home-run swing against Carolina in Game 3. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1297699669137555458

David Krejci: Krejci continues to roll right along this postseason, extending his postseason scoring streak to seven straight games with his primary helper on Pastrnak’s power-play tally in the second. The last Boston player to record a point streak of 7+ games in a postseason was Patrice Bergeron in 2014. 

Krejci is also just the third player in Bruins franchise history to record a point streak of 7+ games in a postseason at age 34 or older. He joins Johnny Bucyk in 1970 (10-5—15 in 9 GP) and John McKenzie in 1972 (4-9—13 in 7 GP).

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1297706667912630276

Brad Marchand - Marchand headlined was another banner night for Boston’s top line, with the pesky winger jump-starting the sequence that led to Coyle’s goal before adding his own tally at 1:17 in the third period. Marchand’s goal was classic stuff from the B’s go-to forward trio, with the winger crossing into Tampa’s zone and playing keep away from the Bolts while his linemates joined him in the O-zone. While it appeared that Tampa was going to clear the puck out of danger, Patrice Bergeron picked Ryan McDonagh’s pocket, feeding the puck towards David Pastrnak — who set up a pass that led to Marchand’s eventual game winner. 

Marchand now has 92 career postseason points with Boston, tying him with Bobby Orr for seventh on the club’s all-time list. 

Jaroslav Halak: Even with Hedman’s pair of tallies in the third period, Halak was superb in this one — headlined by a second period in which he stopped 18 Tampa shots, including a fantastic save on Barclay Goodrow. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1297713226600284160

Halak has now won four straight games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the veteran now just one of four different Boston goaltenders that have recorded a win streak of four games in a postseason at age 35 or older — joining Gerry Cheevers (6-0 in 1978, 5-0 in 1977, 4-0 in 1979), Tim Thomas (5-0 in 2011, 5-0 in 2009), and Eddie Johnston (6-0 in 1972).

ONE DOWN

Nick Ritchie: While he got stronger as the contest went on, Boston still is looking for a bit more of a spark from Ritchie, who landed five hits but didn't record a shot on goal in 9:32 of ice time Sunday. The power forward will likely remain in the lineup, given that tensions should continue to rise in this series, but Boston needs a bit more consistency when it comes to O-zone play.

PLAY OF THE GAME

What a thing of beauty this goal was — headlined by that snag from Bergeron. Just completely out of nowhere. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1297720759788417025

PARTING THOUGHTS

Are we serious with this? 

https://twitter.com/gerrydee/status/1297709646778703872

Give me a break. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1297719761577619456

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT

"I'm glad my parents signed me up for Little League when I was younger." - Charlie Coyle on his mid-air deflections so far this postseason.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins and Lightning will meet again on Tuesday evening for Game 2 of the best-of-seven series. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.