Game 3: Tampa Bay v. Boston - Lightning comes up with an unproductive offence (Part 3)
The luxurious style of play that Lightning started to show was not only an amazing sight to watch, but it also haunted the oppositions’ defences.
Bruins didn’t let this affect them and they solely concentrated on winning the game. This approach to the game certainly gave them immense confidence which helped them to cut down the extravagant plays that Lightning constructed from their centre and wings.
"They were doing the same as us", Boucher said. "We were both limiting each other's transition game. I think last game, their team and our team moved the puck pretty quick and guys were gone, and so I think we're both aware of each other's strengths offensively. Obviously you don't want to give the other team any freebies, so we didn't give them any freebies and they didn't give us any freebies, and that's why it was a tight game. It was down to who was going to make that one lethal mistake and we made it early".
Bruins did something that none of the teams in the playoffs were able to do. They blocked Lightning’s main source of attack that forced Lightning to attack from different positions. This didn’t seem to work for them as they looked rugged and at times they seemed to be unaware of what was going on.
Bruins also benefitted from their strategy of not letting the puck to stay in their own half for long. If they lost possession, they came back successfully to regain control of the puck with a turn-over.
The size of Bruins’ players and their physical game helped them outmuscle their opponents on several occasions but couldn’t find the back of the net that often.
Bruins’ defence was well organized and they didn’t go for the puck as they preferred the players coming to them. This was another reason why Bruins often landed with the puck in their way.
There was absolutely nothing Lightning could do in the game but a chance came their way when it was awarded a power-play.
Lightning was considered the best team in power-plays during the regular season and they continued this form into the postseason. Their productivity level hasn’t fallen so far but Game 3 came as a great disappointment for them. They failed to capitalize from three power-plays coming their way.
Bruins, on the other hand, scored once again in the final period to win the game by 2-0 and lead the series.
Lightning certainly needs to step up their game if they want to give themselves any chance of winning the series otherwise the level of game Bruins has shown implies that things would get very tough for them.
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