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Boston Bruins

Bruins erupt for 7 goals in impressive home win over Lightning

By Matt Dolloff
Jan 6, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) reacts after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Trent Frederic scored twice for the Boston Bruins on Saturday night, as they built a lead then kept ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning for a well-earned 7-3 win at TD Garden.

Frederic scored the game-tying goal in the first period, then again to give the Bruins a 3-1 lead in the second. The 25-year-old forward is up to 12 goals on the season and now on pace for 26. He looks poised to shatter his career-high goal total of 17.

David Pastrnak also scored a goal and added an assist for the Bruins, giving him a pace of 119 points. Fittingly, Pastrnak directly answered Tampa Bay superstar Nikita Kucherov with both his goal and his helper.

Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark made 23 saves on 26 Lightning shots, including an 8-for-8 third period. Rookie forward Matthew Poitras, meanwhile, contributed two assists in his return from the World Junior Championship.

The win improves the Bruins to 24-8-6 on the season, keeping them ahead of the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division.

WATCH: Bruins-Lightning Highlights

The Bruins quickly got off to a rough start. Brayden Point made it 1-0 Lightning just 21 seconds into the game after linemate Brandon Hagel’s hard forechecking turned it over from Brandon Carlo in the corner, then Kucherov fed it to a wide-open Point after the Bruins had vacated the net-front.

  • It took a power play for the Bruins to net their first goal of the night. And it was when Frederic grabbed the first of his two goals, finishing a tape-to-tape pass from Kevin Shattenkirk with a slick little pivot and a quick flip of the puck over the shoulder of Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.

  • Charlie McAvoy gave the Bruins their first lead about 15 minutes into the first period. His point shot deflected off the stick of Point to give him his first goal in 18 games and a 2-1 advantage for the B’s.

  • Finishing a rush with Danton Heinen, Frederic shot the loose puck then whacked his own rebound off Vasilevskiy’s pad and into the back of the net for his second goal early in the second period. The young forward got gifted with a little good fortune to go with his hot scoring and hard-nosed play of late.

  • Right after Frederic’s second goal, the Lightning got called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty when head coach Jon Cooper had an outburst toward the officials. They ended up killing off the penalty.

  • The PK seemed to give Tampa Bay momentum, as Nikita Kucherov made it 3-2 Bruins with his 28th goal during 4-on-4 play. Kucherov beat Carlo in the race to the net then finished his own rebound.

  • Just 30 seconds later, the Bruins went back up by two, thanks to a great play by their own superstar winger. Of course, it was David Pastrnak who protected the puck during a 1-on-1 rush then fired a beauty of a shot over Vasilevskiy’s far-side shoulder, his 24th goal, making it 4-2.

  • As you may expect, the high-powered Lightning would not go away quietly. Point cut the deficit back to one after finishing a dazzling assist from Kucherov, who toe-dragged around Hampus Lindholm then backhanded it to Point in the slot, making it 4-3 Bruins.

  • Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie would get the insurance goal the Bruins needed in the third period. Pastrnak answered Kucherov’s scintillating assist with an eye-popping pass of his own, feeding it wide around the defense to Geekie, who then lofted it over Vasilevskiy and in to give the B’s a 5-3 lead.

  • Jake DeBrusk added an empty net goal to make it 6-3 Bruins, then Charlie Coyle really iced the game when he scored on a shorthanded breakaway to get them up 7-3.

    Up Next: The Bruins will head back out on the road, then take on the dangerous Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.

    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. Check out all of Matt’s content.

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