Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning gear up for tie-breaker Game 3 of Finals: NHL Play-offs Preview
The National Hockey League (NHL) play-off Eastern Conference finals series between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning has been a highly thrilling and exiting one so far as the two games played so far have been physical and high scoring.
It will be very entertaining to see which team can emerge victorious and take the lead in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals when the Bruins and the Lightning meet up for the tie-breaker on Thursday at the St. Pete Times Forum.
Game 1 was a monumental victory for the Lightning as they struck hard against the Bruins, 5-2, to extend their winning-streak to eight games in a row during the post-season. Boston finally cut their consecutive wins and bounced back in Game 2 for a close
6-5 victory.
The Bruins were in a blur when they got the news that their veteran centre player, Patrice Bergeron, would be out due to concussion related problems and the 19-year-old rookie, Tyler Seguin, will take his place at such a crucial moment. Their prayers were
answered as Seguin stepped up and filled the gap left behind by Bergeron to pick up four points in Game 2, including two goals and assists. It has not been less of a miracle so far for the Bruins, as those players have taken the lead which no one could have
ever thought of.
"Obviously he's a young kid playing in the NHL, and if he wasn't good enough or capable of playing here, he wouldn't be here," Tampa Bay goalie Dwayne Roloson said. "He's got great skill. He's a great player. So he capitalized on the chances he had last
night and he played extremely well."
Boston adopted a new strategy in Game 2 which worked magic for them. Seguin was already a factor in their success, but their focus on keeping the puck in the Lightning's end and creating as many turnovers as possible was another key factor that helped them
win.
Offensive attacking was not a big deal for the Tampa Bay Lightning either, as they scored almost at par with the Bruins. The problem lied in their defensive turnover rate and their ability to control the puck in game two. The Bruins' attackers were constantly
fighting for the puck in the opposite end which not only exhausted the Lightning defensemen and goalie, but gave the home team more chances at the net. Boston had only nine attempts at the goal during the second period in which they scored a blistering five.
"We've circled a few things that just after the game that we knew that we didn't do right, and now we're obviously with looking at it, being more specific in what we need to do," coach Guy Boucher said. "But the last time we lost, we bounced back and we
won eight in a row. So there's absolutely no need to panic."
Currently, no player is in more form or performing better than Tyler Seguin who has surprised everyone in the hockey world. Other than him, the Bruins have Nathan Horton, who is also playing well and consistently. He has 10 points in the past six games and
does not show signs of slowing down any time soon. Tampa Bay’s Captain, Vincent Lecavalier, also holds the same consistency for his team with 10 points in the past six matchups, unlike his counterpart in the Boston lineup, Zdeno Chara, who is still yet to
perform in the series.
Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals is scheduled to start tonight in Tampa Bay, Florida, as both teams will certainly give it all they got for a chance to take the lead.
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