Add the fact that the Lightning surrendered the game's first goal and it makes their comeback all the more impressive. That's because the Bruins were playing with the tight, defensive structure that was their hallmark this season, a campaign in which they amassed 112 points during the regular season.
The Bruins were solid during two early penalty kills to keep the game scoreless and then grabbed the lead with a David Krejci one-timer during the back end of a five-on-three power play late in the first. Boston's power play was dangerous throughout the series and contributed five goals over the five games.
But the Lightning eventually broke through against the stout Boston structure when Brayden Point tied the game at 10:43 of the second. While his linemates Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson went to the bench for a change when the puck went deep into the Boston zone, Point stayed out to forecheck. He forced a steal and then jumped on a loose puck in the slot. His backhander slipped under Tuukka Rask.
Shortly thereafter, Patrice Bergeron took a penalty and the Lightning cashed in. With the Bruins' top penalty killing forward in the box, the Lightning worked a give-and-go between Nikita Kucherov and J.T. Miller. Miller zipped a quick shot from the right circle into the top of the net to give the Lightning their first lead with six minutes left in the frame.
The Lightning had some anxious moments during the closing minutes of the period, as they committed a couple of icings and had trouble getting tired players off the ice. But the Bruins weren't able to translate their offensive zone pressure into any dangerous looks and the Lightning got out of the period with their 2-1 lead intact.
Down a goal entering the third with their season on the line, the Bruins tried to press the attack. They posted 14 third period shots. But as a whole, the Lightning did manage the third period well. They got pucks out of dangerous areas, limited turnovers and worked pucks deep into the Boston end. Even though the Lightning recorded only seven third period shots on Rask (not including Anton Stralman's empty-netter), they had several good chances that the Boston goalie turned aside. At the other end, despite their strong puck management, the Lightning did yield a few Grade-A chances themselves. Andrei Vasilevskiy made four high-quality saves in the third - one on Charlie McAvoy, two on David Pastrnak and one on Bergeron - to preserve the lead. The last one came just as a Boston power play expired. That final Bruins power play began with 4:18 remaining. The Lightning received a crucial shot block from Johnson (who was without a stick after having broken it earlier in the sequence) and a terrific shift from Ryan Callahan, who provided an important clear and then killed off a portion of the penalty by protecting the puck in the offensive zone.
Eventually, the Lightning iced the game when Stralman zipped a shot from the top of the Lightning's crease directly into Boston's empty net.
As was the case throughout the series, the Lightning defended well and excelled in five-on-five play. They exhibited solid puck management, limited turnovers and played physically. Also, for the first time in the nine games played this season between the teams, the club that allowed the first goal rallied to win.
I'll have a full series recap in the coming days. For now, the Lightning will savor this impressive series win over an excellent opponent.
Lightning Radio Big Moment of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito):
Miller's GWG.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito):
