BSJ Game Report: Bruins 2, Lightning 1 - Bruins wear down Lightning in potential playoff preview

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning with BSJ insight and analysis…

BOX SCORE 

HEADLINES

Boston brings the intensity in raucous win: Garnet Hathaway scored the eventual game-winning goal with 2:28 remaining in the second period, and the Bruins won, 2-1, over the Tampa Bay Lightning in a playoff-style atmosphere at TD Garden on Saturday.

Patrice Bergeron also scored for Boston (56-11-5). Linus Ullmark made 26 saves. The B’s officially clinched the Atlantic Division with the win. 

Victor Hedman scored for Tampa (42-26-6). Andrei Vasilevskiy made 33 saves. The Bolts have lost four straight.

The Bruins and Lightning combined for 28 penalty minutes in the first period alone and 38 for the game as a whole. 

Things were crispy early on as Hathaway and Pat Maroon got into it before the opening draw. Ross Colton and Jakub Lauko mixed it up seconds in, and Nick Paul was the third man into the scrum. Bedlam ensued, and Hathaway and Maroon squared off. 

Boston capitalized on one of its first-period power plays when Bergeron was in the right place at the right time in front. Brad Marchand’s centering pass tipped off Bergeron’s skate and Hedman’s skate before going in. 

Aside from the fortunate bounce, power play struggles continued when Hedman scored with a rocket shorthanded after the Bruins mismanaged the puck to tie it, 1-1. 

After a good run of 5-on-5 through the end of the first, mostly, the B’s and Bolts traded power plays again in the second. 

Once back at even strength, Hathaway restored Boston’s lead to make it 2-1. The fourth line went to work on the forecheck, and Matt Grzelcyk’s wrister from the point found a way to the net, where Hathaway was parked to bat in the rebound. 

Ullmark turned aside 11 shots in both the second and third periods to preserve the win. 

THREE UP

Playoff-style hockey: Could you imagine a seven-game series between these two teams? Whether it was the fireworks at the start of the game, the physical intensity over the course of the game and the seemingly desperate play on both sides at times, you can't help but keep thinking about the second season on the horizon. 

The bottom six: Boston’s bottom six matched up against Tampa exactly how one could’ve hoped after the deadline additions. The fourth line established energy early on, and the third line was arguably the B's best line at 5-on-5. Both lines each held a 75 percent share of 5-on-5 shot attempts, and each skater was on the ice for multiple high-danger chances for Boston.

The penalty kill: The Bruins held one of the league's more dangerous units to 0-for-5 on the man-advantage, giving them almost nothing in the middle of the ice. Tampa generated just five shot attempts and one high-danger chance on its power plays, according to Natural Stat Trick. Bergeron and Hampus Lindholm were critical in killing an extended 5-on-3 for the Lightning in the second period with the game still tied, 1-1.

TWO DOWN

The power play: The power play was ice cold again in this one, going 1-for-7. It cashed in with the fortunate bounce in the first period, but the Bruins squandered key opportunities, especially in the first when Boston spent most of the opening 10 minutes on the advantage. The Bruins forced passes that weren't there, struggled on zone entries once again and just seemed disconnected positionally, giving up a shorthanded goal. Fortunately, the bottom six's play even strength and the penalty kill picked Boston up.

The top six: The top two lines shoulder most of the blame for the power play's woes. They were far too loose with the puck, blindly throwing it into space and again, being stubborn entering the zone. At 5-on-5, they traded chances with Tampa. The Lightning held a 56 percent share of shot attempts against the Czech line. Bergeron was excellent on the penalty kill and at the dot, but at 5-on-5, it's not often he and Marchand rank at the bottom of Boston's individual Corsi-for numbers. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

The fourth line went to work on the forecheck here, and Grzelcyk did a great job of sifting a shot through. Hathaway got rewarded after a taxing day at the office. 

LOOSE PUCKS

Couldn’t help but notice this subtle interaction between Jim Montgomery and Jon Cooper immediately following the game-opening scrum. 

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will turn right around tomorrow when they travel to Carolina. Puck-drop against the Hurricanes is set for 5 p.m.