TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING at BOSTON BRUINS (LIGHTNING LEAD SERIES 1-0)
Line/Total: Boston -150, Tampa Bay +130/5.5 under -140
Facing a 3-1 series deficit against the Penguins in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, the Lightning were just one loss away from being eliminated from the 2011 postseason. However, facing that possibility, Tampa Bay has taken their game to another level, and after defeating the Bruins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, they now have won eight straight games. The Bruins lost the first two games of their Quarterfinals Series against Montreal at home, but do not wish to suffer the same fate against the Lightning, as they prepare to host Tampa Bay for Game 2 on Tuesday.
In his best season in the NHL with the New York Islanders in 2008-09, Sean Bergenheim scored 14 goals. After netting the first goal of this series, Bergenheim now has scored eight goals to lead all players in the 2011 postseason. His tally led to barrage of three goals in 85 seconds for Tampa, as Teddy Purcell and Brett Clark followed to put the Bruins in an early 3-0 hole. Dwayne Roloson was excellent again in goal, allowing just one goal for the first 58:59, and stopping 31 of 33 shots overall. Roloson has set an NHL record for most consecutive playoff wins in single postseason starts for goaltenders 40 or older, breaking the mark of seven previously held by Jacques Plante.
For the Lightning to have won eight straight games while receiving hardly any support from Steven Stamkos (one of only two players this season with 45 goals and assists – Daniel Sedin being the other) who has just four goals and two assists this postseason (two goals and an assist came in one game), speaks volumes about the production Tampa is getting from the rest of the roster. Eight other players have the same or more points than Stamkos in the postseason. If Tampa continues to get this amount of support from players not named Stamkos, it will be very tough to beat. After averaging 2.3 goals per game during their first four games this postseason, the Lightning are averaging 4.3 goals per game during their eight-game win streak.
Boston was caught a bit off guard by Tampa’s onslaught midway through the first period when they allowed those three goals. By the time the Bruins righted their ship, it was too late and Tampa won Game 1. Boston is no stranger to coming from behind in a series, having done so after falling behind the Canadiens 2-0 in the Quarterfinals. The Bruins desperately need Milan Lucic to step up and contribute like he did during the regular season when he led Boston with 30 goals. Lucic has more game misconducts this postseason (three) than he does goals (two), both of which came in Game 4 against the Flyers when the Bruins were up 3-0 in the series. Lucic had another game misconduct in Game 1 and his frustration level is obvious, not only to his teammates, but to fans and the opposing teams who are taking advantage of his temper to get him kicked out of games. Tim Thomas played well for all but 85 seconds in Game 1, but that was enough to cost him and the Bruins the series lead.
Boston has set an NHL record for most consecutive losses in the Conference Finals with nine. The last time Boston won a Conference Finals game was when it defeated the Penguins 5-4 in OT of Game 2 of the 1991 Conference Finals Series. The Bruins went on the lose the next four straight and then got swept by Pittsburgh in a rematch in the 1992 Conference Finals. Boston can still lose Game 2 and win the series, but with Tampa’s ability to score and Roloson playing at the level he is playing at, that’s something the Bruins don’t want to overcome.