Lightning bolt past Bruins into final four
TAMPA BAY 3 BOSTON 2 (2OT)
(Lightning win series 4-1)
Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper could see his team beginning to wilt as Monday’s first overtime period dragged on.
The Lightning had dressed seven defenceman for a fourth straight game, but lost star winger Nikita Kucherov to injury in the second period, leaving just 10 forwards at his disposal.
And the Boston Bruins were coming hard facing elimination after tying things late in the third period.
“We needed every ounce of our energy,” Cooper said. “Tongues were dragging … it was tough.”
But his players found another level in the second extra period, and now are off to the Eastern Conference final for the fourth time in six years.
Victor Hedman’s shot at 14:10 of double overtime went in through a crowd as the Lightning defeated the Bruins 3-2 on Monday to win their secondround series 4-1.
“How they managed to play that second overtime, I don’t know,” said Cooper, whose team allowed just one shot against after the intermission. “It was a pretty committed effort by the guys. Fortunately for us one went in.”
Anthony Cirelli and Ondrej Palat scored in regulation for the Lightning, while Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 45 shots inside an empty Scotiabank Arena. Kevin Shattenkirk and Brayden Point each finished with two assists, while Hedman had one.
“A great feeling. We battled really hard,” Hedman said. “Losing Kuch early on in the game, is obviously a big blow for our team, but gotta give a lot of credit to our forwards. Super proud of the effort they put forth, and [Vasilevskiy] was huge.”
The Lightning were stunned by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a four-game sweep after winning last season’s Presidents’ Trophy before recommitting themselves to playing better without the puck this season. Tampa beat Columbus in five games in the opening round of the playoffs to exorcise those demons before sending the team that had the best record when this season was paused because of COVID-19 packing.
“It’s a great feeling,” Vasilevskiy said. “Especially after last year [when] we kind of screwed it up.
“Great series … we were just a little bit better.”
David Krejci, with a goal and an assist, and David Pastrnak replied for the Bruins. Jaroslav Halak made 32 saves.
“Very disappointing finish,” Boston winger Brad Marchand said. “We had a great year … we have a hell of a team and expected better.”
The Lightning will take on the winner of the East’s other semifinal between the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers. The Islanders lead that best-of-seven series 3-1 and can clinch Tuesday night.
Minus No. 1 goalie Tuukka Rask after the Vezina Trophy finalist left the bubble during Boston’s five-game victory in the opening round over the Carolina Hurricanes because of a family emergency, the Bruins never really got going in the restart after sitting first in the NHL when the schedule was halted by COVID-19 in mid-March, but put together their best effort of the summer in their final outing.
Boston, which lost to the
St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of last year’s Stanley Cup final, dropped all three games in the round-robin seeding tournament to fall from the No. 1 slot down to No. 4.