BSJ Game Report: Lightning 3, Bruins 2 - B's fall short against streaking Lightning

Everything you need to know from the Bruins' 3-2 loss to the Lightning, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Bruins run out of steam in third against Lightning: The Bruins' bread and butter all season long has been their stellar play in the third period.

But on Thursday, it was the Lightning who outmatched the B's in the final frame for a 3-2 victory at Amalie Arena.

Victor Hedman scored the game-winning goal for the hosts while Nikita Kucherov led all skaters with three points. 

The Bruins' (38-6-4) third-period goal differential before Thursday's game was a plus-44, but goals from Hedman and Kucherov in the final frame was one better than the B's. Pavel Zacha notched his ninth goal for Boston in the third.

Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy brought his best as the hulking netminder picked up 37 saves on 39 shots from the B's. Brad Marchand broke through Vasilevskiy in the second period with his 16th of the season.

Tampa Bay opened the scoring on a power play strike from Brandon Hagel. The Lightning forward buried a pass from Kucherov after finding open ice in front of Linus Ullmark (32 saves) to put the hosts ahead, 1-0, at 10:42 of the first period.

The Bruins didn't respond until the final minutes of the second on Marchand's goal during 4-on-4 play. Taylor Hall and Mikhail Sergachev each received coincidental minors after Hall ran into Vasilevskiy driving the net, setting the stage for Marchand, who scored at 16:58.

The Lightning scored right away in the third to go back ahead, 2-1. Kucherov ripped a shot past Ullmark immediately off a faceoff win. Charlie McAvoy crashed hard into the boards the play before the draw and left the game, but the defenseman returned moments later.

Zacha finshed off a pretty passing play from David Pastrnak and David Krejci less than two minutes after Kucherov's strike to halt Tampa Bay's momentum right away. 

Over the course of the period, the Lightning found their pace once again and capitalized with a marker from Hedman. Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo backed into Ullmark during a Lightning 2-on-1 rush, giving Hedman plenty of net to shoot at, to put Tampa Bay back on top, 3-2.

The Lightning held on over the final five minutes to win their 11th consecutive game at home, while snapping the Bruins' six-game win streak.

THUMBS UP

Despite the result, Ullmark was strong once again for the Bruins. Each of the three Tampa Bay goals weren't shots Ullmark should have stopped and there were a handful of Lightning chances that saw the B's goaltender record an impressive stop.

Ullmark's best save came during the second period on a partial breakaway from Brayden Point.

The loss was Ullmark's third of the season.

THUMBS DOWN

Brandon Carlo made a couple of mistakes in this one that resulted in two goals for the Lightning. During the first period, Carlo abandoned the front of the net while the B's were killing a penalty, leading to Hagel's goal. Then in the third period, Carlo knocked Ullmark out of position, setting up the third Tampa Bay strike. 

Carlo is usually reliable in the defensive zone but struggled in the B's own end against Tampa Bay.

PLAY OF THE GAME

If you needed any more proof just how skilled Pastrnak is, take a look at this feed. Just filthy stuff from No. 88.

AROUND THE ATLANTIC

The only other two Atlantic division teams playing Thursday faced each other and it was the Red Wings who got the better of the Canadiens, 4-3.

Robby Fabbri scored the overtime game-winner for Detroit, which outshot Montreal, 42-23. The defeat handed the Canadiens their third loss in their past four games.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will stay in Florida as the Panthers are next up on Saturday. The Panthers beat the B's, 5-2, Nov. 23 in Sunrise, before the Bruins blasted Florida, 7-3, Dec. 19 in Boston.