NHL Playoffs: Boston Bruins Push Tampa Bay Lightning to Verge of Elimination

The Boston Bruins experienced a similar game last year being up 3-0 after one period against the Philadelphia Flyers only to see it evaporat. Eerily enough, a Simon Gagne scored the game-winner to get them to the Eastern Conference and completed the infamous "Collapse."

We move fast forward to the 2011 playoffs and this time, it is the Eastern Conference Finals and instead of Game 7, it is Game 4.

The Bruins held a commanding 3-0 lead on some critical turnovers and a shorthanded goal. You'd think they'd be going back to Boston for an elimination game, right? Not so fast.

The Bruins lose the game in the third period on a goal by...you guessed it...Simon Gagne, in a Lightning jersey this time.

The bright side of this for the Boston Bruins was that this was not a winner-take-all game and they did come out of it with the series tied instead of coming back home behind.

Tonight, Boston was looking to bounce back just as they did in Game Two in the Garden and propel themselves within one game of earning the right to play for Lord Stanley's Mug.

The Game

First Period

It didn't take long for the Lightning to strike (pun intended).

Simon Gagne scored on a wrister between Johnny Boychuk's legs that beat Tim Thomas to the right side at just 1:09 into the game. No chance on that shot as Thomas was perfectly screened by his own D man. Lightning up 1-0.

If it wasn't for Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, the score would have been much worse for the Bruins as they were outshot 14-4 in the opening frame.

Second Period

Until the 4:24 mark of the second frame, Lightning goalie Mike Smith was not scored on against the Bruins in this series as he stopped all 29 shots leading up to this game and all four shots he faced in the first period of Game 5.

Bruins forward Milan Lucic made a centering pass to Nathan Horton, who one-timed it midway up and to the right of Smith to score Boston's first goal on him in this series. One all.

The goal ended 85:15 of shutout hockey for Smith vs the Bruins.

With 4:04 left of the second frame, Bruins' Forward Brad Marchand scored in what would be the eventual game-winner.

The puck was in the Lightning zone and Chara shielded the puck from Victor Hedman and Patrice Bergeron got the puck. He saw Brad Marchand, who dumped the puck in to begin with and made a tape-to-tape pass.

Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis had Marchand's stick and was going to lift it up but was a fraction of a second too late as Marchand was able to get tape on the puck and roof it past Smith's right side to give the Bruins the lead.

The Bruins were badly outshot 23-12 after 40 minutes of play. The Lightning really wanted to take this series back to Tampa Bay with a 3-2 lead.

Third Period

Tim Thomas robbed Steve Downie on what seemed to be a wide open right side but Thomas stuck the paddle out to prevent the tying goal. This save could be the save of the playoffs (see video added to this article).

Downie was called for boarding as Bruins D man Johnny Boychuk was slammed into the end boards. Upon replay, it didn't seem that the call should have been made as the hit was not targeting the head and it was not right on the numbers.

After the game, Boychuk was speaking with ESPNBoston.com and said he was fine.

The Bruins iced the game with a goal from Rich Peverley with 13 seconds left of the game.

Peverley dropped a lifted puck out of the air right as his blue line and he skated to shot the puck just after he crossed the blue line but it was blocked by Lightning Marc-Andre Bergeron. Peverley recovered the puck and skated up to the net to ensure it was buried in back of Tampa Bay's empty net and seal Game 5 for the Bruins with a final score of 3-1 and a series lead of 3-2.

So the magic number for the Bruins to hoist the Cup is five. In order to even earn the right to lift it, they must first win one more game against the Lightning and then take on the Western Conference champions, who are still yet to be determined, but it seems like it maybe the Vancouver Canucks as they are up 3-1 in their series.

The Good

The Bruins played a physical game and what good chances the Lightning did have were limited.

Thomas kept his cool and did not seem to be thrown off his game with the Lightning crashing the net in the same fashion they did in Game 4.

The faceoff was dominated again by the Bruins, who earned 58 percent success.

The penalty kill was excellent, allowing only four shots on Thomas.

The Bruins played the net more, giving Smith a much harder time than the previous game.

The Bad

Johnny Boychuk went back to the dressing room after the hit from Downie. Coach Julien stated that he was fine, but until there is an official report, there is nothing to report at this time.

The B's were taking some not-so-smart penalties, but the PK stepped up and kept them off the score sheet in that aspect, as they allowed only four shots on net.

The Ugly

The Bruins were outshot 34-20 by the Lighting. Thomas made some key saves to keep them at one goal.

CBC's Bob Cole is still a Tampa Bay Lightning fan after the Habs and then the Flyers were knocked out. I'm beginning to think he really hates the B's.

The mainstream media's stupidity. Even after Thomas clearly stated that he did not guarantee the game or series win and even rephrased the question of could he see his team win. There are outlets of the mainstream that still state he is guaranteeing the win.

I like a good controversy just as much as the next person, but to keep stating something was said, even after it was clarified, is either stupidity or a poor attempt to stir the pot to generate news.

My Take

Tim Thomas saved this game for the Bruins. That is no doubted. The Bruins did play a more complete game compared to Game 4 and this is what is needed to move on, if the Bruins can pick up.

Fortunately for the Bruins, the Lightning did not capitalize on the power play.

Unfortunately for the Bruins, they did not capitalize on the power play. 

Until then, I look forward to Game 6.

This is Cory Ducey saying "Hit Hard, But Keep It Clean"