BSJ Game Report: Bruins 3, Lightning 1 - Hall lifts B’s to win over Bolts, 13th straight victory at TD Garden

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 3-1 win over the Lightning, with BSJ insight and analysis:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Hall leads way as B’s win 13th straight game at TD Garden: It’s a testament to the depth and firepower present on this Bruins roster that a former Hart Trophy winner in Taylor Hall is currently logging reps on both the third line and the B’s second power-play unit. 

Such a designation isn’t a knock against Hall’s play over the last few weeks, but rather a sign of just how effective Jim Montgomery’s current lineup tweaks have been as of late.

And based on the 31-year-old winger’s performance on Tuesday, it doesn’t seem like Montgomery is going to shift him off that third line any time soon. 

Be it at 5v5 play or on the man advantage, Hall was a man possessed whenever he hopped over the boards against the Lightning — scoring a pair of tallies and leading the Bruins to a 3-1 victory over the Bolts at TD Garden.

With the win, the Bruins improve to 19-3-0 on the season and extend their NHL record to 13 consecutive wins on home ice to open a new season. 

Hall opened the scoring for Boston just 1:07 into the game with a tip goal off of a Brandon Carlo shot — and he gave Boston the lead for good at 2:49 in the third, snapping home a puck from a slot on the man advantage following a slick behind-the-net feed from Nick Foligno.

Hall might be operating a bit further down the depth chart for Boston these days, but he sure isn’t playing like a bottom-six regular for this team. And having that mismatch further down in the lineup made things miserable for Tampa Bay all night long. 

B’s taking care of business against Bolts: Yes, we preached measured expectations for this team during this ongoing gauntlet of top-tier teams and fellow Cup contenders. But so far, Boston has been up to the task and then some — posting a 3-1-0 record with those victories against the Bolts (twice) and the Hurricanes. Not too shabby. 

And while regular-season records generally don't factor all that much once the calendar flips to the postseason, the Bruins have to be feeling pretty good about where their collective game is at against one of their top hurdles in the East in Tampa Bay.

As 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Ty Anderson noted, the Bruins have now won five-straight games against the Lightning dating back to last season — standing as Boston’s longest win streak over the Bolts since posting 10 consecutive victories from March 2012 to May 2015.

Yes, Tampa’s trademark depth has been sapped over the last few years. But this is still a battle-tested roster anchored by some elite talent in Andrei Vasilevskiy, Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Brayden Point. 

And over the last year, the Bruins have had their number — outscoring Tampa, 18-9, over this five-game run. 

FOUR UP 

Taylor Hall: Even if Hall didn’t light the lamp twice, he probably would have still earned a spot on our “ups” list — because he was FLYING on just about every shift against the Lightning. His seamless transition down to the third line has further bolstered Boston’s depth, with his straight-line speed allowing him to recover pucks and jumpstart extended O-zone possessions next to Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic.

Jeremy Swayman: Hall might have been the hero on Tuesday, but Swayman was stout in net all evening — putting together his most complete performance between the pipes to date this season. Swayman turned aside 27 of the 28 shots that came his way in the win, headlined by a lead-preserving stop against Corey Perry in the third period.

Hampus Lindholm: His secondary assist on Hall’s second goal was scrubbed from the record books postgame, but Lindholm made that play happen with his assertive drive down the slot and subsequent feed to Foligno down low. Lindholm finished with a team-high 25:11 of ice time in the win.

Nick Foligno: We’re past the quarter mark of the season, and Foligno is still on pace for close to 50 points this year. Just a tremendous turnaround for the veteran forward, who continues to make plays at the netfront on Boston’s second power-play unit.  

TWO DOWN

Penalty kill: The return of Derek Forbort definitely helps Boston’s shorthanded unit in the long run, but the B’s PK crew was once again knocked for a goal against on Tuesday thanks to a one-time howitzer from Stamkos. The Bruins have now coughed up a power-play goal in seven straight games — an uncharacteristic fault for a team that prides itself on sterling special-teams play. 

Pavel Zacha: Good on Zacha for helping to win the puck battle along the boards that led to Hall’s second goal — but man, he has to be thanking the hockey gods that Tampa didn’t come back to tie this one after this missed opportunity.

PLAY OF THE GAME

LOOSE PUCKS

I don't think the Maroon household will be sending Jack Edwards any holiday cards this winter. 

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will continue their four-game homestand on Saturday when they host the defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche at TD Garden. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.