Lightning Vs. Bruins, Game 1: Three-Goal Burst Gives Lightning 5-2 Road Win To Start Series

VIDEO: Tyler Seguin Scores First Playoff Goal; Lone Bright Spot In Bruins' Game 1 Loss

Lightning Vs. Bruins: Tampa Strikes Thrice Early, Takes Game 1 On The Road

A three-goal outburst within one minute and 25 seconds to make it 3-0 mid-way through the first was all the Tampa Bay Lightning would need to get a Game 1 win over the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Final. The Lightning got five different goal scorers and a solid performance by Dwayne Roloson in a 5-2 road victory over the Bruins at TD Garden Saturday night. 

It was an exciting start for both teams, as both teams were able to draw great chances. Vincent Lecavalier had the best early chance, getting in alone on Boston goaltender Tim Thomas. Lecavalier tried the backhand move that Peter Forsberg used against Canada in the 1992 Gold Medal Game of the Olympics, but Thomas made a remarkable save to keep it scoreless. It wouldn't be for long.

A few minutes later, a bizarre play happened that caused Bruin defenseman Dennis Seidenberg to lose his stick completely. That would hurt him, as he was the only man able to play a rebound of a Tim Thomas save off a Dominic Moore shot. The best he could do was weakly kick the puck, where it was found by Sean Bergenheim, and he buried it past Thomas. Bergenheim continued his remarkable post-season, getting his eighth goal of the playoffs at 11:15.

Right off the face-off, defenseman Brett Clark got the puck in his own zone. The Lightning defender took it through the neutral zone, into the Bruins end, down the right wing. He was loosely watched by Andrew Ference of Boston, loosely enough that he got a nasty back-hander away that beat Thomas in a Raymond Bourque-esque rush in #77's old haunt. It was Clark's first goal of the post-season, and the second Tampa Bay goal in 19 seconds to make it 2-0 Lightning.

A minute later, there was another blunder from the Boston defense. Tomas Kaberle made a terrible play behind his own net. He simply mis-played, panicked and then gave it up to a standing-in-front Teddy Purcell. The young Tampa forward got not one, but two clean chances on Thomas and was able to bury it and make it 3-0 Lightning. It was Purcell's second of the post-season, and the third Lightning goal in 1:25 at 12:40 to make it a three-goal lead. Claude Julien took his lone timeout to slow things down.

The Bruins got the momentum back slowly, and then got a goal back, courtesy of their #2-overall pick in the 2010 Entry Draft, Tyler Seguin. Seguin made a remarkable cross-over move on Tampa's Mike Lundin, and beat Dwayne Rolson at 15:59. It was Seguin's first career Stanley Cup Playoff goal in his first career post-season game, and it was 3-1 Lightning, which is how the first period would end.

In the second period, Thomas faced 13 shots, with the Bruins defense still looking shaky at times, and the Lightning getting two opportunities on the power play. Thomas was fantastic, making 13 saves and looking acrobatic on many of them. Dwayne Roloson was just as solid as he was in the first, though he faced fewer shots, stopping eight of eight in the middle frame.

Both goaltenders were solid, but eventually an ill-advised penalty did in the Bruins. Johnny Boychuk landed a massive, open-ice hit on Simon Gagne. Lecavalier tried to get Boychuk to answer for what was largely a clean hit, and Boychuk pushed back enough to get a roughing minor. Marc-Andre Bergeron ripped a knuckler that went off the knob of Thomas' stick and in the net to make it 4-1 Tampa Bay. Second goal of the post-season for Bergeron to make it a three-goal game again.

Gagne himself managed a measure of revenge with an empty netter from center to cement it. Chris Kelly got a garbage goal, but it was too late, as the Lighting took Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, 5-2. Game 2 is Tuesday night, and the Bruins will have to put themselves in a must-win situation. 

Lightning Vs. Bruins, Game 1: Solid Goaltending Keeps It 3-1 Tampa Through Two Periods

After a first period dominated by goal scoring and turnovers, the scoreboard slowed down in period two of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final. However, that did not mean that the excitement did the same. Dwayne Roloson remained solid, and Tim Thomas upped his game, making numerous remarkable saves to keep the score 3-1 Lightning after 40 minutes at TD Garden.

In the second period, Thomas faced 13 shots, with the Bruins defense still looking shaky at times, and the Lightning getting two opportunities on the power play. Thomas was fantastic, making 13 saves and looking acrobatic on many of them. He has a total of 20 saves on 23 shots through two periods. The Lightning went 0-for-2 on the man advantage in the second. 

Dwayne Roloson was just as solid as he was in the first, though he faced fewer shots, stopping eight of eight in the middle frame. The Bruins got three power plays in the second period, after a penalty-free first period. They failed on alll of them, going 0-for-3 for the period. Roloson has stopped 19 of 20 shots so far. The Lightning maintain a two goal lead on the road headed to period three. This would be a huge win if they can get it. 

Lightning Vs. Bruins, Game 1: Three Goals In 1:25 Gives Tampa 3-1 Lead After One Period

So this is going to be the boring conference final, is it? Well, I guess this is okay. Three goals in 85 seconds gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-0 lead mid-way through the first period of Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Final series with the Boston Bruins. The Bruins called a timeout, regrouped, and then got a highlight-reel goal from rookie Tyler Seguin, playing in his first Stanley Cup Playoff game. Boston has life, but Tampa Bay leads 3-1 after 20 minutes at TD Garden.

It was an exciting start for both teams, as both teams were able to draw great chances. Vincent Lecavalier had the best early chance, getting in alone on Boston goaltender Tim Thomas. Lecavalier tried the backhand move that Peter Forsberg used against Canada in the 1992 Gold Medal Game of the Olympics, but Thomas made a remarkable save to keep it scoreless. It wouldn't be for long. 

A few minutes later, a bizarre play happened that caused Bruin defenseman Dennis Seidenberg to lose his stick completely. That would hurt him, as he was the only man able to play a rebound of a Tim Thomas save off a Dominic Moore shot. The best he could do was weakly kick the puck, where it was found by Sean Bergenheim, and he buried it past Thomas. Bergenheim continued his remarkable post-season, getting his eighth goal of the playoffs at 11:15. 

Right off the face-off, defenseman Brett Clark got the puck in his own zone. The Lightning defender took it through the neutral zone, into the Bruins end, down the right wing. He was loosely watched by Andrew Ference of Boston, loosely enough that he got a nasty back-hander away that beat Thomas in a Raymond Bourque-esque rush in #77's old haunt. It was Clark's first goal of the post-season, and the second Tampa Bay goal in 19 seconds to make it 2-0 Lightning.

A minute later, there was another blunder from the Boston defense. Tomas Kaberle made a terrible play behind his own net. He simply mis-played, panicked and then gave it up to a standing-in-front Teddy Purcell. The young Tampa forward got not one, but two clean chances on Thomas and was able to bury it and make it 3-0 Lightning. It was Purcell's second of the post-season, and the third Lightning goal in 1:25 at 12:40 to make it a three-goal lead. Claude Julien took his lone timeout to slow things down.

The Bruins got the momentum back slowly, and then got a goal back, courtesy of their #2-overall pick in the 2010 Entry Draft, Tyler Seguin. Seguin made a remarkable cross-over move on Tampa's Mike Lundin, and beat Dwayne Rolson at 15:59. It was Seguin's first career Stanley Cup Playoff goal in his first career post-season game, and it was 3-1 Lightning, which is how the first period would end. 

Lightning Vs. Bruins, Game 1: Chara's Bruins Look To Defend Home Ice Against Star-Studded Lightning

While many prognosticators felt early on that the Boston Bruins would be a candidate to challenge for Lord Stanley's Cup this season, not nearly as many thought they'd have to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the last round separating them from competing for it. The fifth-seeded Lightning take on the third-seeded Bruins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, tonight at TD Garden in Boston.

The two clubs are not traditional rivals, and have never met in a playoff series. One wonders if there is a psychological advantage for Boston, especially at home. The Lightning have only won a stunning four times in their history at either Boston or TD Garden. This season the Bruins went 3-1 against Tampa Bay in 2010-11, and naturally, went 2-0 at home. 

The Bruins, of course, will be without Patrice Bergeron, who suffered another concussion in the Game 4 clincher against the Philadelphia Flyers. Head coach Claude Julien updated his status this morning, saying that "[he] went out and had a light skate this morning. That's where he's at right now, just a light skate on his own." It appears that it'll be at least a little while longer before we see one of the Bruins top centers at practice and eventually, in game action.

Tyler Seguin, the 19-year old picked second in last year's entry draft, will step in for Bergeron and play his first Stanley Cup Playoff game tonight. Seguin struggled this season, scoring only 11 goals and 22 points in 74 games. He won't be expected to fully replace Bergeron, though he'll be asked to provide some depth down the middle as the Bruins other centers step up, but Julien said "I'm one of those guys that's very optimistic and confident about Tyler coming in tonight and playing a solid game for us."

Meanwhile, the Lightning will get Simon Gagne back tonight, after missing games 2-4 of Tampa's Eastern Conference Semifinal series with the Washington Capitals when he was knocked to the ice by defenseman Scott Hannan. Head coach Guy Boucher said of his impact on the club, "he's a pressure guy. He's lived it with Team Canada, he's lived it in Philly. He's been in pressure situations in the NHL so many years, and he's come up with big goals. He's one of those guys that's a clutch player. Certainly has and will be playing a huge part in our team."

The Lightning will also look to get their stars - Gagne, along with Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos - away from Bruins behemoth defender Zdeno Chara, though Boucher won't shy them away from him. He said "In the end, your top players have to be able to play against their top players. There will be some matchups. We don't have much control over it here in Boston. Therefore, everybody has to be ready to play against Chara or anybody else."

So, we're ready to go for Game 1. Stay tuned to this post for updates before, during and after tonight's game. Also, enjoy Stanley Cup of Chowder and Raw Charge for more local coverage. Enjoy the game!