Bruins Live Blog: B’s Extend Win Streak to Three Games, Exact Some Revenge on Lightning with 5-2 Win at Garden

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Mar 27, 2012

Bruins Live Blog: B's Extend Win Streak to Three Games, Exact Some Revenge on Lightning with 5-2 Win at Garden

Final, Bruins 5-2: The Bruins extend their win streak to three games and exact some revenge for their lopsided loss in Tampa two weeks ago as they strike down the Lightning 5-2 at the Garden.

Rich Peverley provided the capper with an empty-net goal with 6.8 seconds left.

The Bruins are now five points up on Ottawa for the top spot in the Northeast Division and still have a game in hand on the Senators. Boston next hosts Washington on Thursday, with the Capitals now out of a playoff position after losing 5-1 to Buffalo on Tuesday.

Third Period, 18:01, Bruins 4-2: The Bruins continued to pepper Roloson with shots but couldn't extend the lead on that power play. Still, there's now less than two minutes to play with the Bruins up by a pair of goals.

Third Period, 16:01, Bruins 4-2: The Bruins will now get another power play as Brian Lee is sent to the box for delay of game after sending the puck out of play over the glass.

Third Period, 15:50, Bruins 4-2: The Bruins finally get a two-goal lead as Brad Marchand tallies an important insurance goal.

Patrice Bergeron dropped the puck to Marchand on the right wing, then drove to the net to provide a screen as Marchand ripped home a wrister from the circle.

Third Period, 14:48, Bruins 3-2: Stamkos comes within about an inch of tying the game again with a one-timer from the slot. Thomas gets enough of it to slow it down, then clears it off the goal line just before it crossed.

Third Period, 11:34, Bruins 3-2: The Bruins take the lead again as the third line continues its torrid play with Benoit Pouliot scoring.

Brian Rolston attempted a wraparound at the right post. The puck slipped off his stic, but went right to Pouliot, who fired it home from the slot.

Third Period, 11:07, 2-2: The Bruins kill that penalty off as well, with Thomas making a couple of big stops, including one on Stamkos from the left slot. Johnny Boychuk and Ryan Malone engaged in a nasty battle in front of the net, but Boychuk got the final shot with a huge hit on Malone in the corner.

Third Period, 9:07, 2-2: The Bruins are shorthanded again as Tyler Seguin goes to the box yet again, this time for high-sticking.

Third Period, 8:40, 2-2: Adam McQuaid is already back on the ice for the Bruins. Can't keep that tough kid down for long.

Third Period, 6:26, 2-2: Adam McQuaid goes down hurt and heads to the room after a collision with JT Wyman. McQuaid appeared to hit his head on Wyman's leg as he fell awkwardly.

Third Period, 5:46, 2-2: The Bruins let the Lightning hang around, and now the game is tied as Steven Stamkos strikes again.

He scores his second of the game and 55th of the season on a one-timer from left circle. It's 2-2 now despite the Bruins' 25-9 edge in shots.

Third Period, 5:23, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins can't convert their power-play chance, and now it's Tampa's turn again. Johnny Boychuk goes to the box for tripping as the parade of penalties continues.

Third Period, 2:59, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins will now go on a power play with Tim Wallace heading to the box for tripping. Big chance for the Bruins to get some breathing room in this one on this man advantage.

Third Period, 2:24, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins nearly add an insurance goal as Milan Lucic wheels out to the left slot and rings a shot off the post.

Third Period, 1:58, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins kill off that penalty and are back at even strength, leading 25-8 in shots now.

Third Period, 0:00, Bruins 2-1: The final frame is under way here at the Garden, where the Bruins lead by a goal but open the third with 1:58 left to kill on Tyler Seguin's tripping penalty.

Second Intermission Notes: The Bruins finally grabbed the lead, but it could be a tenuous one as they open the third period shorthanded.

Zdeno Chara continues to be the catalyst, picking up his second assist of the night with his one-timer leading to Dennis Seidenberg's go-ahead goal for the 2-1 lead.

The Bruins continue to pour shots on Dwayne Roloson, but he's looking more like the Roloson of last year's playoffs than the struggling version Tampa has seen most of this year. Boston outshot the Lightning 12-3 in the second and has a 23-8 edge in shots overall, but Roloson has kept Tampa in the game.

The Bruins are also wearing down the Lightning with their physical play, outhitting Tampa 22-13 so far. Patrice Bergeron is the surprising leader there with four hits, although Adam McQuaid delivered the most devastating blow late in the second. It's less surprising to see Bergeron leading the way in the faceoff circle, where he's 17-3. The Bruins are 29-8 overall on draws (78 percent).

End Second Period, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins will take a one-goal lead into the third period, but they will begin the final frame on the penalty kill as Tyler Seguin was called for tripping Steven Stamkos with 2.2 seconds left in the middle frame.

Second Period, 17:21, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins can't convert that power-play chance. The lead remains 2-1, with the Bruins now outshooting Tampa 21-7.

Second Period, 15:21, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins will now go on the power play as Mike Commodore is sent to the box for tripping. The matching penalties have expired so it is a 5-on-4 power play.

Second Period, 15:05, Bruins 2-1: The Bruins take the lead with Dennis Seidenberg scoring during the 4-on-4.

Zdeno Chara picks up another assist as he sends in the initial blast with a one-timer from the blue line. Seidenberg follows that, pinching in on the left side to bang home the rebound from the circle.

Second Period, 13:16, 1-1: Things get a little nasty in the Tampa crease after Roloson ties up the puck. Greg Campbell and Keith Aulie try to get at each other, but a linesman is between them, and they have to settle for matching roughing minors. It will be 4-on-4 for the next two minutes.

Second Period, 11:08, 1-1: The Lightning come within inches of taking the lead as Eric Brewer rings the post from the high slot.

Second Period, 9:34, 1-1: The Bruins continue to control play, but they are letting the Lightning hang around in this one. Boston is up 16-6 in shots midway through the game, but the game remains tied at 1-1.

Second Period, 6:43, 1-1: The Bruins kill that penalty off, with the only really serious threat coming in the closing seconds when Thomas had to tie up the puck in the crease for a whistle.

Second Period, 4:43, 1-1: The Bruins will be shorthanded for the first time in this one as Brad Marchand is sent to the box for cross-checking.

Second Period, 3:55, 1-1: The fourth line continues to create chances, with Thornton again buzzing around the net along with Campbell, who still can't get a point as Roloson holds the fort to keep this one tied.

Second Period, 2:00, 1-1: The Bruins have announced a scoring change on Thornton's goal, taking away the secondary assist from Greg Campbell. It now reads just Thornton from Chara.

Second Period, 0:00, 1-1: The middle frame is under way here at the Garden, with the Bruins and Lightning deadlocked at a goal apiece.

First Intermission Notes: The Bruins put together a solid opening period, although they don't have a lead to show for it with the game deadlocked 1-1 after 20 minutes.

Tampa scored on its first shot of the game. It came off the stick of the NHL's leading goal scorer as Steven Stamkos scored his 54th of the season, but it was one Tim Thomas would certainly like back as Stamkos scored on an unscreened wrister from the right circle.

The Bruins had the better of the chances throughout the period and outshot Tampa 11-5. They finally converted, with the fourth line providing the goal by Shawn Thornton. Thornton had a strong period, nearly scoring a second goal with a clean breakaway late in the frame.

Zdeno Chara, honored before the game for playing his 1,000th NHL game over the weekend, set up Boston's lone goal when he weaved through the defense and drove to the net, with Thornton following  his initial drive for the score.

In addition to leading the shot count, the Bruins are up 12-8 in hits and dominating the draws 14-6 (70 percent). As usual, Patrice Bergeron leads the way there, going 7-2 on faceoffs in the first.

End First Period, 1-1: The opening frame comes to a close with the Bruins and Lightning all tied up at a goal apiece despite Boston's 11-5 edge in shots.

First Period, 18:33, 1-1: Thornton nearly had another goal as he grabs the puck off a giveaway at the blue line and breaks in alone, but Roloson makes the save.

First Period, 16:52, 1-1: The Bruins created chances again on the power play but could not convert. Tyler Seguin had a bid all alone in the left slot but couldn't get enough on the shot to put it home. Rich Peverley later drove hard to the net and nearly stuffed it in at the left post.

First Period, 14:52, 1-1: The Bruins will get another power play as Brad Marchand breaks free behind the defense, forcing Keith Aulie to trip him up going to the net. No penalty shot, but the Bruins do get another man advantage.

First Period, 10:54, 1-1: The Bruins pull even as Shawn Thornton scores after a monster shift by Zdeno Chara.

Chara weaved through the defense down the right wing and drove right to the net. His initial shot was stopped, but Thornton banged home the rebound at the right post.

First Period, 8:11, Lightning 1-0: The Bruins had some good possession time in the Tampa zone, especially in the first half of the penalty, but couldn't convert on the power play. Wyman is now out of the box and the sides back at even strength.

First Period, 6:11, Lightning 1-0: The Bruins will get a power-play chance to try to pull even as JT Wyman is sent to the box for holding the stick.

First Period, 5:03, Lightning 1-0: The Lightning strike first as Steven Stamkos scores on Tampa's first shot of the game.

Stamkos gets his 54th of the year on a wrister from the right circle as the Lightning once again jump out to an early lead on the Bruins.

First Period, 1:10, 0-0: The Bruins threaten early, but Dwayne Roloson stones David Krejci at the right post off a feed from Tyler Seguin.

First Period, 0:00, 0-0: With the Chara festivities out of the way, this one is under way here at the Garden, with last year's Eastern Conference finalists meeting for the last time this season.

7:35 p.m.: Before this one gets under way, the Bruins are holding a pre-game ceremony to honor Zdeno Chara for playing his 1,000th career game in the NHL on Saturday in Los Angeles.

After a video tribute, Chara gave a brief speech, then was given gifts from his teammates and the club, including a silver stick and a free stay at hotel anywhere in the world from the team's assistant captains.

7:30 p.m.: The Bruins will open with Patrice Bergeron between Brad Marchand and Rich Peverley up front, Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk on defense and Tim Thomas in goal.

The Lightning counter with Ryan Malone, Steven Stamkos and JT Wyman up front, Eric Brewer and Brett Clark on the blue line and Dwayne Roloson in net.

7:25 p.m.: The Bruins have officially scratched Daniel Paille, Joe Corvo, Mike Mottau and Torey Krug.

Adam Hall, Ryan Shannon, Nate Thompson, Mathieu Garon and Bruno Gervais are out for Tampa Bay.

7:15 p.m.: The Bruins appear to be going with the same lineup in this one that they used Sunday in Anaheim.

Daniel Paille was on the ice for warm-ups but did not take part in the line rushes. It appears he will be scratched again. Likewise Joe Corvo on defense. He also skated in warm-ups but not in the line drills.

Newcomer Torey Krug did not take warm-ups, nor did Mike Mottau.

Here is the complete line combinations from warm-ups:

Lucic-Krejci-Seguin

Marchand-Bergeron-Peverley

Pouliot-Kelly-Rolston

Caron-Campbell-Thornton

Defense Pairs:

Chara-Seidenberg

Ference-Boychuk

Zanon-McQuaid

7 p.m.: It's a battle of veterans between the pipes. Tim Thomas and Dwayne Roloson lead the teams out for warm-ups. That will be the goalie matchup in this one here at the Garden.

6:30 p.m.: The Bruins will take on Tampa Bay for the final time this season in about an hour.

That means it's also the final chance for Boston to avenge their 6-1 throttling at the hands of the Lightning two weeks ago in Tampa. That lopsided loss is fresh in the minds of the Bruins, who know they have to put together a much better performance in this one.

It will help if Brian Rolston continues his unexpected resurgence. The veteran forward has 11 points in his last six games, which has even his linemates wondering if Rolston really is 39 years old.

Torey Krug is barely half Rolston's age, but the young defenseman joined the Bruins for the first time at Tuesday's morning skate after signing with the club this weekend. Krug isn't expected to play in this one, but is happy just to soak up the atmosphere in his first taste of NHL life with his new club and even a new number.

8 a.m. ET: The Bruins closed out their West Coast trip in style with back-to-back wins in Los Angeles and Anaheim over the weekend.

Now they return home looking to settle a score with Tampa Bay. The Lightning handed Boston one of its worst losses of the season two weeks ago, routing the Bruins 6-1 in Tampa on March 13.

The Lightning (35-33-7, 77 points) dropped three straight after that win but have turned things around with victories in each of their last three games, including a 5-3 win in Philadelphia on Monday.

Steven Stamkos had his NHL-leading 53rd goal against the Flyers after reaching 50 goals for the second time in his young career against the Bruins two weeks ago. The Lightning are shorthanded up front after him and have been dressing seven defensemen of late with forwards Vincent Lecavalier (hand), Ryan Shannon (shoulder), Nate Thompson (upper body), Dana Tyrell (knee) and Adam Hall (upper body) all battling injuries. Tampa is also without defensemen Marc-Andre Bergeron (back) and Mattias Ohlund (knees) and goalie Mathieu Garon (groin).

The Bruins got a bit healthier with Rich Peverley returning Sunday in Anaheim after missing 19 games with a knee injury. Boston is still without forward Nathan Horton (concussion) and goalie Tuukka Rask (groin). The Bruins (44-28-3, 91 points) lead the Northeast Division by three points over Ottawa, which beat the Jets 6-4 in Winnipeg on Monday, but Boston has two games in hand on the Senators.

The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. Tune in to NESN to watch the game, and stay with the NESN.com live blog, as we'll keep you up to speed on everything happening at the Garden.

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