By Jake Ricker
Notable Missing Players
TBL Bos
Jospeh (Injury) McAvoy (Non Covid-19)
Kucherov (Injury) Marchand (Suspended)
Point (Injury) Cassidy (Covid-19)
Game Summary
1st Period
Boston would take an early penalty giving the Lighting a great chance to take a quick lead, but Boston held on and killed off the penalty. Boston quickly responded with a chance of their own, but Vasy made sure to shut down anything they had over the next few minutes.
Stamkos and ABB then got two good shots on net, but Swayman denied both of them to keep the game scoreless. Things then started to fall apart for the Bolts as they continued to turn over the puck. Boston was unable to capitalize on these opportunities, though, and the game remained scoreless.
Boston then got their first chance on the power play as Bogosian was called for a high-stick. But it wouldn't be Boston to cash in on the man advantage as Taylor Raddysh scored his First NHL goal on the penalty kill.
Boston would keep up the pressure but, Vasilevskiy continued his stellar performance and helped the Bolts take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
2nd Period
The Start of the second period was no different as the Bruins came out firing. Despite all of Boston's chances, they could not beat Vasilevskiy, and even when they did, they ran into Vasilevskiy's best friend, the post.
Despite all the pressure from the Bruins, the Bolts struck again as Palat banked one off a Bruins player and gave the Lightning a 2-0 lead.
At this point, it was surprising that the Lightning led 2-0 despite Boston outplaying the Bolts in essentially every category. This would continue as Boston kept pushing for that first goal. Then with under 3 minutes remaining in the period, Boston finally found the back of the net to cut the Bolts lead to one.
The Bruins then took a late penalty giving the Bolts an opportunity to gain some of their momentum back. Boston's penalty kill would hold off the Lightning for the rest of the period, though, and we would head to the final Frame with the Bolts leading 2-1.
3rd Period
Once again, Boston came out to a hot start as just moments into the third period, Hall had a breakaway chance, but he put the shot wide. The Bruins were banging on the doorstep, but Vasy continued to hold that door shut, and the Lightning still had their one-goal lead.
Boston would finally tie this game up 4 minutes into the period as Taylor Hall found the back of the net to make it 2-2. It just continued to feel like the Lightning were playing a step behind and had to get the momentum back in their favor quickly.
Even when things seemed to settle down little for the Bolts, Boston would come right back with a grade-A chance. Boston was simply outplaying the Lightning. The Bolts would, however, finally get their best shift of the period as Corey Perry was buzzing around the net.
Despite the Bolt's best efforts late in the period, this one would come to a close tied 2-2. Both teams would pick up a point, and we would look to settle this one in overtime.
Overtime
Bellemare would get the first opportunity of the overtime, but Swayman held him off. Boston then responded back the other way, and this time it was Vasilevskiy's turn to shut the door.
The excitement would quickly build as it does in 3 on 3 overtime as The Bolts entered the zone and crashed the net, but their shot was turned away, which caused a breakaway chance for Pastrnak, who was stopped by Vasilevskiy. Sergachev then recovered the puck up the ice where the Lightning had a 2-on-1. Stamkos then decided to do what he does best and blasted the puck from the right circle to win it for the Lightning in overtime.
Game Stats
TBL BOS
25 Shots on Goal. 39
41 Face-off % 58
0/2 Power play 0/1
2 PIM 4
31 Hits 33
19 Blocks 11
13 Giveaways 7
9 Takeaways 9
1 minute Recap
Our Three Stars
1. Vasilevskiy (TBL)
2. Carlo (BOS)
3. Stamkos (TBL)
Media's Three Stars
1. Stamkos (TBL)
2. Vasilevskiy (TBL)
3. Coyle (BOS)
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