Taming Tampa, Bruins 4 Lightning 2
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| What a beautiful arena, too bad Tampa doesn't have fans |
"Let's Go Bruins!" chants and huge cheers erupting when B's score here in Tampa tonight. Feels like a home game for the Black and GoldThe Boston Bruins were able to escape the cold, and escape their suspect play as they made their first road trip down to the sunshine state to the lovely city of Tampa.
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) February 22, 2013
Nathan Horton would score twice, Bergeron and Marchand would each add one of their own, Tuukka would hold down the fort with 24 saves and the Bruins would start the Florida trip 1-0 with a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The scoring would start a minute into the game as Dougie Hamilton took a shot, which was rebounded off Tampa goaltender Anders Lindback's pad to a wide open Horton who knocked in his 5th of the season. Moments later Marchand would win a loose puck battle behind Tampa's net and send it in front to Patrice Bergeron who knocked it home for his 5th on the year.
Tampa would answer back, with no other than Steven Stamkos who streaked through the slot and ripped a shot past Tuukka. Tampa would even up the score as rookie Corey Conacher was left wide open on the left wing putting a pass from Teddy Purcell in the back of the net.
The Bruins would score the next two as Seguin initial shot got blocked by a Lightning defensemen and got a favorable bounce to a trailing Marchand who put it past Lindback. Horton would then add fuel to the fire as he redirected a Chara pass/shot. Horton would try to go for the hattrick but couldn't find the the empty net.
Some things to take out of the game. Penalty kill was a perfect 3-3, but the Bruins could not draw any penalties from the Lightning. Tuukka came up big a number of times, one in particularly was when Vincent Lecavalier had a break away late in the third and Tuukka stuffed him.
The defense was kind of suspect, but played good while facing this high energy offensive attack and held scoring threat Steven Stamkos to one goal and one assist.
Finally the goals came. The Bruins were able to produce a substantial amount of goals tonight, something they have been lacking this season.
All in all a great game by the Bruins. They now get two days rest to soak up the sun as they travel cross state to the Miami area to take on the Florida Panthers in a Sunday afternoon matinee.
