Bruins vs. Lightning: Bolts Force Game 7, Shipping Series Back to Boston

The Bruins looked to close out the series in Tampa Bay and send the Lightning to the links.  The Lightning likes the ice just fine and wants to play at least one more game.

The Bolts get their wish as they defeated the Bruins 5-4 in a third period nail-biter.

The Game

First Period

At just 36 seconds in, Teddy Purcell got the Lightning on the board first.  The faceoff was won and the puck was sent right back to Purcell, who ripped it past Thomas who didn't see it.

Milan Lucic got the Bruins back on even keel with a wrister that went between a Bolt's legs and past Dwayne Roloson's glove side.

David Krejci put the Bruins ahead with a wrister. 2-1 Bruins.

Second Period

Martin St. Louis scored on the power play when he backhanded the puck on Thomas' left side.  Tied at two.

Purcell got his second goal of the game on the power play.  As he shot it, it hit the top of Thomas' pad to roll over, and the Lightning regained the lead. 3-2 Lightning.

Third Period

Just 34 seconds into the final frame, the Lightning got another power-play goal by Steven Stamkos to put the Bolts up 4-2.

Bruins tried to get back in it.  They earned their first road power-play goal at the hands of Krejci for his second of the night.  4-3 Bolts.

29 seconds later, St. Louis and Steve Downie went in two on one, and Downie passed it to St. Louis when Thomas fully committed Downie.  Andrew Ference didn't commit to St. Louis, who buried it in the net, and the Lightning regained the two goal lead.  5-3 Bolts.

Krejci earned a hat trick as the Bruins clearly outplayed the Bolts in the last part of the period in a bid to get the game tied and at least force overtime.  5-4 Bolts.

The Bruins couldn't muster the tying goal, and the series is going back to Boston for a winner take all trip to Vancouver.

The Good

Boston's front line produced, and produced big, with Lucic earning a goal and an assist.  Krejci earned a hat trick.

The Bruins did show some life, but the offense was too little, too late.

The Lightning took full advantage of their power play, getting three of the five goals.

The Bad

The Bruins power play is still suffering on the road.  While they did get one, it was just one opportunity, as earlier in the game they had three other power plays that they could not capitalize on.

The Ugly

Discipline.  The Bruins committed some penalties that cost them three goals.  Some of these penalties should not have happened simply because the offending Bruin players should have used cooler heads.

My Take

The Bruins can play and defeat the Bolts.  The problem in this game is the lack of discipline that they showed with a lack of execution in special teams.

The Bolts will take every chance they can get and capitalize in any mistake they can pick up on—a  dangerous combination that both the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals have seen.

So, we are now facing Game 7, and the Bruins need to use home ice to their advantage.

If they win, they will get to have a crack at Lord Stanley's Mug for the first time since 1989.

Should the Bolts win, the Bruins should look at the season as a success, and the Bruins faithful will need to take comfort in the fact that they have a great youthful core developing.

Until then, I'm looking forward to Game 7.

This is Cory Ducey saying, "Hit hard, but keep it clean."