Halak, Bruins top Lightning in opener

TORONTO — Jaroslav Halak stopped 35 shots to win his fourth straight game since starter Tuukka Rask opted out of the playoffs, and the Boston Bruins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 to open their second-round series Sunday.

Charlie Coyle tipped in Brandon Carlo’s point shot to open the scoring. David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand had a goal and assist apiece for the Bruins, who are resembling the team that led the NHL with 100 points and 44

NHL regular-season wins.

Halak, 35, became the Bruins fourth goalie 35 or older to win four or more straight postseason games — and first since Tim Thomas won five in a row in 2009.

Victor Hedman scored twice for the Lightning, with both goals coming in the final 11:10 after Tampa Bay fell behind 3-0. Both goals came on shots from just inside the blue line that tipped in off Boston’s Charlie Mcavoy in front.

Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots in a game that was supposed to feature a match up of two of the three Vezina Trophy finalists before Rask abruptly opted out to be with his family on

Aug. 15. Vasilevskiy set a franchise record in making his 37th playoff start, one more than Ben Bishop,

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Tuesday.

The roles were reversed in a meeting of Atlantic Division rivals and the NHL’S top offensive and defensive teams. With 243 goals scored, Tampa Bay led the league in scoring for a third straight year, while the Bruins allowed a league-low 167.