Thomas, who seems odds on to win his second Vezina trophy this year, turned away all 31 shots he faced as the Bruins claimed a 2-0 win at the St Pete’s Times Forum and took a 2-1 series lead against the previously red hot Lightning.
Forward Patrice Bergeron returned to the Boston line up after missing two games with a concussion, hitting the outside of the post on the very first shift of the night but it was Dave Krejci who claimed the opening goal early in the game.
Left all alone in front of Roloson, the young Czech showed a neat set of hands to find a gap and beat the veteran stopper as the Lighting D was caught woefully on its heels.
Then the Tim Thomas show began to kick in.
Suggestions that it might just be Thomas’s night came early on, when he performed a 360 degree spin before making a slick pad save to deny Vincent LeCavalier’s shot from the right circle as the Lightning heaped the pressure on looking for a equaliser.
Heading in to the second period it was Roloson’s turn to bring out the big stops, turning away several good scoring chances to keep the Bolts within one as the Bruins began to gain momentum, out shooting their hosts 12 to 6 during the middle period.
With the game still set at 1-0 to
Guy Boucher’s side continued to put the pressure on Thomas and the Boston D, clocking up 15 shots to the Bruins 5 in the period, but they were unable to find a way through leaving them trailing the series heading in to game 4 on Saturday.
Contact the author: rob.mcgregor@prohockeynews.com
