Lightning Turnaround Begins in Boston

The Tampa Bay Lightning playing the Boston Bruins was a marquee matchup just a few years ago. Many pre-season predictions (including mine) had the Lightning winning the Atlantic Division. Instead, they are bringing up the rear with the lowly Buffalo Sabres after dropping their first two games. Boston, who many had penciled in as the worst team in the Atlantic are undefeated winning all three of their games so far. When down is up and good is bad and dogs are living with cats and now a matinee game is on the schedule, who knows what to expect?

Starting in net for the Lightning was backup goalie Jonas Johansson. For the hated Bruins, they were also playing their backup netminder, Joonas Korpisalo. It didn't take the Lightning long to begin changing their recent misfortunes. Nine seconds after the first minute of the game, Anthiny Cirell gave Tampa the first lead that they have had in a long time. Positioned in front of the net, Cirelli took a beautiful feed from Jake Guentzel to light the lamp. Maybe, this is a sign of a turnaround for this team.

That goal was so nice, the same two players did it twice. Guentzel was behind the Bruins net and after winning a puck battle. he fed Cirelli in front of the net who put the puck past Korpisalo for the second time in ten minutes. At this point, the Lightning are thinking of playing the remaining 79 games on the road. Nothing like room service cooking. The first period with the Lightning up two goals.

As the second period starts, the challenge for the visitors is not to let the home team think they have a chance to get back in this game. Sure enough, an old reliable for the Lightning took care of that. Yanni Gourde scored his second goal of the season 39 seconds into the second period to put the good guys up 3 - 0. One of the newest Lightning players, Pontus Holmberg assisted on the goal.

Just as the Lightning bench let out a collective sigh buikdng the three goal lead, the Bruins scored their first. Casey Mittlestadt snapped the puck past Johansson on the stick side to get the home team on the scoreboard. Just when the Lightning fans might be thinking this was a bad sign, the Gourde line scored again to make it 4-1 Lightning. Holmberg assisted by Oliver Bjorkstrand and Max Crozier. Three goals by two teams in the first three minutes. At this rate, it should be 21-19 at the end of this period.

About a minute later, Bruins defenseman Jordan Harris found himself on a 2 on 1 breakaway. Everyne in the building thought this defenseman would pass the puck to Pavel Zacha. Apparently, so did Johansson. Another stick side goal and the Tampa lead was cut to 4-2. This made four goals in the first five minutes and begs the question: Will either team play some defense? Well, they did. For the next six minutes anyway, neither team scored. One of the early season issues for the Lightning is face offs. Especially in the defensive zone. Zacha won a face off and back flipped the puck to a streaking Morgan Geekie, who wristed a shot past Johansson to make it a 4-3 game.

As the game entered the final period, the Lightning had to protect their lead and the Bruins had to know they were one good shot from tying up the game. So far seven goals had been scored by both teams and the game could be won by the defense that shows up. As the period went on, both teams defense were stepping it up.

Back and forth the game went. Both teams had a power play or two in the period but neither could take advantage of the extra man. Who would have thought that this game would turn into a defensive standoff? Halfway through the period, the score remained the same.

With two minutes remaining and neither team lighting the lamp, the Bruins pulled their goalie. Despite the empty net and a couple of good chances, the Lightning couldn't pot an empty netter. The Bruins certainly had sufficient chances but couldn't buy a goal. Finally the horn marking the end of the period went off with the score still 4-3 Lightning.

The Lightning finally get in the win column, Boston comes down to earth and loses their first game of this young season. So, now down is a little closer to up, bad isn't so good and I'm keeping my pooch away from the frisky tabby next door.

My top three stars of this game are:

1. Anthony Cirelli - two goals

2. Pontus Holmberg - one goal and one assist for two points and

3. Gage Goncalves - two assists (I know Jake Guentzel had two assists but Goncalves did it in five less minutes of ice time.

Next up is tomorrow night in Washington DC - puck drops at 7:00 pm.