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Boston Bruins

The Bruins and Lightning wasted no time throwing fists in their potential playoff preview

By Matt Dolloff
Mar 25, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Jakub Lauko (94) fights with Tampa Bay Lightning center Ross Colton (79) during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

It took all of nine seconds for the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning to pop off.

You could sense it just before the opening faceoff on Saturday at TD Garden. Boston forward Garnet Hathaway and Tampa’s Pat Maroon roughhoused to the point that the officials had to separate them and reset, so you knew something could be brewing early on. But it was the Bruins’ Jakub Lauko and the Lightning’s Ross Colton that would throw the first shots, tangling almost immediately and tumbling to the ice.

Hathaway and Maroon then promptly said, ‘Welp, guess we’re doing this,’ and dropped the gloves. It was the second fight of the season between the two, the first coming in November, when Hathaway was still with the Capitals.

“It’s just the game,” Hathaway deadpanned.

  • The temperature cooled after a wild first period, which featured a combined 26 penalty minutes between the teams, and the Bruins got their feet under them in the process. It was encouraging for head coach Jim Montgomery to see them hold their own in the more physical early minutes.

    “I think it just made for a really good hockey game – maybe a late-’80s, early-’90s type of hockey game,” Montgomery said. “But it’s great, because we’re gonna face this in the playoffs. We’re gonna face games where it’s physical and it’s hard. I really liked the way we responded.

    “After the first, I thought we really got to our game, 5-on-5, and I just thought that everyone started winning footraces, which is a big indication of not being deterred by any physicality that comes our way.”

    The first period more resembled the Boiler Room Brawl between Undertaker and Mankind at SummerSlam ’96, than a modern NHL hockey game. But as Montgomery indicated, it could get that heated at times in the playoffs, and the Bruins showed the Lightning that two can play at that game. Tampa had the clear upper hand in the heaviness and physicality departments for a few years running, but with the additions of Hathaway, defenseman Dmitry Orlov, and winger Tyler Bertuzzi ahead of the trade deadline, the Bruins have a newfound edge.

  • Mar 25, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Pat Maroon (14) throws a punch at Boston Bruins right wing Garnet Hathaway (21) during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

    Mar 25, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Pat Maroon (14) throws a punch at Boston Bruins right wing Garnet Hathaway (21) during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

  • Meanwhile, have the Lightning gone a little too far in that direction? Because while they may have won the fights, they didn’t look ready to win the game.

    The Bruins, however, look capable of winning any game you throw at them. Especially in their own building.

    Hathaway may be a relative newcomer in Boston, but this was far from his first time playing a heavy, emotional game within the loud, fiery confines of TD Garden. He’s been happy to fit in as an energy forward. It paid off for him on Saturday, when he scored the eventual game-winning goal.

    “I think we just fell back on the work ethic of this team, and how we’ve played at home all year,” Hathaway said. “It’s a tough place to play. I know first-hand, it’s tough to come in here and play against our team at home. The fans are great. I think we played to our identity.”

  • It’s been lining up all season for the Bruins and Lightning to meet in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, should they each prevail in the opening round. The Lightning have certainly had the Bruins’ number in postseason hockey going back to 2018. But this year, Boston has passed Tampa for Atlantic division supremacy – for now.

    There will be added pressure on the B’s to close the deal and win the Stanley Cup after a historic regular season. They may very well have to get past the Lightning, who will be going for their fourth straight Cup Final appearance, along the way.

    They look more ready than ever to accomplish that.

    “As a team we’ve been looking forward to this, to a team that’s going to be in the playoffs and we potentially could see,” Hathaway said. “A team that’s battling right now. You’re gonna play that same way.

    “That’s how we’re gonna have to play in a couple weeks.”

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    Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster 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? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

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