FINAL: Bruins 7, Lightning 3 - Boston's offense takes over in third period

The Bruins defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-3 on Saturday night behind an explosive offensive performance in the third period. 

Tampa Bay took a 1-0 lead :21 into the game thanks to a goal from Brayden Point. The Bruins answered back at the 4:42 mark on the power play with a Trent Frederic goal to make it 1-1. Charlie McAvoy scored his first game in 18 games at the 14:56 mark to give Boston a 2-1 lead at the first intermission. 

The second period saw Boston extend their lead to 3-1 1:49 into the period as Frederic scored his second goal on the night. The Lightning answered back at the 7:53 mark thanks to a goal from Nikita Kucherov which made it 3-2. However, the B’s answered back :30 later on a breakaway goal by David Pastrnak started by a great pass from Pavel Zacha.

 Tampa Bay answered back again at the 15:53 mark as Point scores his second goal of the night to make it 4-3 going into the third period. 

The third period was when Boston's offense took over the game. It started with Morgan Geekie scoring 1:35 into the period to make it 5-3. They added on with an empty netter from Jake DeBrusk at the 16:34 mark which made it 6-3. Charlie Coyle joined the scoring party on a breakaway at the 17:14 mark to make it 7-3. 

Linus Ullmark finished the night with 23 saves in net for Boston. 

The Bruins begin a four-game road trip in Colorado on Monday night to take on the Avalanche at 9 p.m. E.T. 

• KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Boston got off to bad start with too many giveaways and bad puck control 
•  Kucherov had 3 points (1 goal and 2 assists), contributing in each of Tampa's goals
• Boston's defense still has some improving to do. 
• Frederic had two goals on the night. 

_____________________________

WHO: Lightning (19-16-5) at Bruins (23-8-6)
WHEN: 7 p.m. 
WHERE: TD Garden, Boston. 
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub
LIVE BOX SCORE
ROSTERS

 Hedman -  Perbix
 De Haan -  Raddysh
Declan Carlile - Philippe Myers

 Vasilevskiy
Johansson
PREGAME NOTES

The Bruins finish their two-game home stand versus the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7 p.m. Boston sent Georgii Merkulov back to Providence and called up Jesper Boqvist. James van Riemsdyk left morning skate early today and will not play tonight, as he is considered day-to-day. Mason Lohrei did not participate in morning skate today as he underwent more dental work related to the puck he took to the face on Tuesday in Columbus. 

Matt Poitas, who has not suited up since December 16th, in an option tonight. He was centering Trent Frederic and Danton Heinen during morning skate. Parker Wotherspoon skated alongside Kevin Shattenkirk this morning. 

The Lightning enter tonight ending a three-game road trip coming off a 4-1 win in Minnesota on Thursday night. Tampa Bay enters one point back of New Jersey and Philadelphia for a wild card spot. Nikita Kucherov is tied with Nathan MacKinnon  of Colorado for the league lead in points with 64 in 39 games. He also has 27 goals which ranks second in the NHL behind Austin Matthews of Toronto. Brayden Point is second on the Lightning with 17 goals and 40 points in 40 games. 

Tampa Bay ranks sixth in the league in goals for at 131. The Bruins will have a lot on their hands with  defense coming off a brutal defensive performance versus Pittsburgh on Thursday night. On the flip side, the Lightning rank 29th in goals against at 136. According to Hockey Reference, Tampa Bay has a Corsi rating of 51.3% during five-on-five play.