BOSTON, Mass – If you were looking for stellar defensive hockey from the Boston Bruins in game one of the Eastern Conference finals you were not satisfied with this contest.
In a space of just 85 seconds midway through the first period, the Tampa Bay Lightning jammed in three goals and ended the contest before the home club could protest.
The first goal was legitimate enough as Sean Bergenheim netted his league-leading eighth playoff score after a scramble in front of the goal. The second and third goals were as weak as any goals you could ask for. The Bruins allowed Tampa defenseman Brett Clark to channel Bobby Orr as the Bruins allowed Clark to skate the length of the ice to get a shot on goal. As if Clark’s uncontested romp wasn’t embarrassing enough Boston netminder Tim Thomas added to the lack of competitiveness by allowing Clark to slip a weak back hand shot behind him.
Tampa’s third goal was even less contested than Clark’s goal if that is possible in a conference final game. The tally came when Teddy Purcell stripped Tomas Kaberle of the puck and then took not one, but two uncontested backhanders with the second shot going behind Thomas.
The last four goals of the game were split between the two clubs. Boston’s Tyler Seguin notched a beautiful goal in his first playoff game to narrow the contest to 3-1. It would be as close as Boston would get as Marc-Andre Bergeron and Simon Gagne scored the next goals to put the Lighting up 5-1. Boston defender Johnny Boychuk scored late in the game to make the score official.
Game two of the series is slated for Tuesday night. Although the shots were even at 33 apiece, the contest was not even close. If Boston cannot play better than they did in this outing the Lightning stand a very good chance of extending their winning streak past the eight games it stands at now.
Contact Tom.Schettino@prohockeynews.com
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