Lightning Shut Out Bruins 4-0, Keep Atlantic Race Close
The Tampa Bay Lightning took care of business in a virtual must-win game for the Atlantic Division race, shutting out the Bruins 4-0 at Amalie Arena on Tuesday.
Tampa out-shot Boston 36-33 for the game, including 33-21 in the first two periods. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped all 33 Bruins shots for his eighth shutout of the season and 12th of his career.
For Tuukka Rask, it’s the Bruins goaltender’s first regulation loss since Feb. 24 at Toronto.
Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes a save against the Boston Bruins’ David Pastrnak on April 3, 2018 at Amalie Arena. (Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
Brayden Point broke a scoreless tie in the second period for his 31st goal of the season. Tampa poured it on in the second frame as Victor Hedman followed up with his 16th goal and Chris Kunitz tucked home a loose puck in the crease for his 13th. J.T. Miller tacked on the fourth goal in the third period when he ripped a wrister by Rask on a 2-on-1 rush.
The Bruins (49-18-12) still hold the top seed in the Eastern Conference due to winning the games played tiebreaker over the Lightning (53-23-4). But clearly, Boston’s margin for error on a run for first place just shrunk significantly for the final three games.
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
