Ondrej Palat scored the game-winning goal in a bounce-back effort for the Tampa Bay Lightning in a Game 2 victory over the Boston Bruins. Their best-of-seven playoff series is now tied 1-1.
The Bruins started off abnormally slowly in terms of their offensive attack. It wasn’t until 14:01 into regulation that the B’s registered a shot on goal. But for Tampa, it took a slashing call on Torey Krug to find the back of the net against Rask. Yanni Gourde broke the scoreless tie on a far-side rebound right in front of the crease.
The Bruins gradually started to find their offensive rhythm later in the first, particularly their ultra-dangerous top line. Despite being unable to cash in on nearly two full minutes of a 5-on-3 power play, Charlie McAvoy eventually got the equalizer. The rookie defenseman buried a centering pass from Marchand past Andrei Vasilevskiy to tie the game 1-1 with just 1:30 left in the first.
Tampa eventually went back on top 2-1 off the stick of Tyler Johnson, who capitalized on a Bruins offensive zone turnover and finished on a 2-on-1, beating Tuukka Rask with a wobbly puck that snuck past the goalie.
The teams exchanged goals in the third period, but first with Tampa going up 3-1 on the goal by Palat. Torey Krug got the Bruins back within one just 1:50 seconds later, but the damage had been done. Brayden Point buried the empty-netter to finish the B’s off.
Point’s line bounced back from a disastrous performance in Game 1 against the Bruins’ top forwards, combining for seven points on Monday. Point finished with a goal and three assists with a plus-2 rating.
Up Next: The Bruins and Lightning shift to Boston for Game 3 at TD Garden on Wednesday with the series knotted up at one game apiece.