NHL Playoffs 2011: Boston Bruins Must Limit the Mental Mistakes to Win Game 5

The Boston Bruins were poised to take a 3-1 series lead in Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals.

But after letting the Lightning make a comeback during the second period, Tampa Bay finished the game scoring five goals to just Boston's three. 

The Bruins ended the first period in Game 4 with a 3-0 lead with two goals from Patrice Bergeron, including a shorthanded one, and a goal by Michael Ryder.

At the beginning of the second period, the Bruins had two power play opportunities, and a goal on either would have put the game away for good.

But the Bruins failed on those power plays, and were rattled by two quick goals by Teddy Purcell right after, and at the end of the second period, the score was tied 3-3.

Simon Gagne scored in the third to make it 4-3 for Tampa, and Martin St. Louis added an empty netter to complete the scoring, and left the Bruins wondering what could have been.

After a loss in this postseason, the Bruins are 3-1, and haven't lost two games in a row since dropping the first two games of the first round at home to Montreal.

The Bruins have showed they can win a close game and a shootout in this series, but need a more consistent effort to win this series.

Goalie Tim Thomas has been shaky for Boston in this series, and has only played well in Game 3 when the Bruins won 2-0.

But the defense in front of Thomas needs to play better too, especially Tomas Kaberle. Kaberle was the Bruins' big acquisition at the trading deadline, but his play in the postseason so far has been pitiful.

If the Bruins can limit the type of mental mistakes that Kaberle and others have made, they'll be fine. The Bruins are a deeper, more talented team than the Lightning, but you can't give a team easy chances no matter who you play.

Boston has to be the aggressors in Game 5, and need to keep up that intensity regardless of how well they start the game.

Going into Game 5 Monday night, the Bruins are in a good position to take a 3-2 series lead and go to Game 6 in Tampa for the clincher.

But they must play 60 minutes of good hockey, and not 20 minutes of great hockey, followed by 40 minutes of average to bad hockey.

With Patrice Bergeron playing well after his concussion suffered in the East semis versus Philadelphia, the Bruins are a healthy roster, and can roll out four quality lines.

Losing Game 5 and going to Tampa for Game 6 down 3-2 would be devastating for Boston, and it could spell the end of their season.

Boston needs to focus for 60 minutes, and their talent will take over and win them the pivotal Game 5.

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins Featured Columnist, follow him on Twitter for Bruins and NHL playoff coverage.