Eastern Conference Finals - Game Four

After game three, it was clear that the momentum had shifted in the Bruins favor. I mean with a stellar defensive game and a shutout posted by your all-star goaltender, how could it not? They say that a team is most vulnerable when they score a goal. In this case a team is most vulnerable after they win a game.

The game started off slow as both teams were trying to find a rhythm. Tampa Bay had the better chances much throughout the first period. Last time I checked, you do not win the game by out-chancing your opponent, but you have to out-score them. Patrice Bergeron stole the puck from behind the Lightning goal and shot it into the goal. Later on in the period, Michael Ryder scored his fifth goal of the playoffs on assists from Chris Kelly and Tomas Kaberle. Bergeron added a short-handed goal less than two minutes later for his second of the game. Hockey is a momentum sport and it carried over from game three in favor of Boston. At the end of the period, there was unsportsmanlike conduct from both teams. Rich Peverley (BOS), of all people, dropped the gloves with Marc-Andre Bergeron (TB) and Steve Downie (TB) got a 10 minute game misconduct. The Lightning were clearly frustrated as they trailed the Bruins 3-0 after one period.

The second period was all Tampa Bay as they scored three unanswered goals. Teddy Purcell had two and Sean Bergenheim had the third goal. Goaltender Mike Smith, who replaced Dwayne Roloson, stopped all 21 shots that he faced. In the third period, Tampa Bay got their first lead of the game when Simon Gagne put one past Tim Thomas after Tomas Kaberle (BOS) slid across the ice to block a shot but he could not get off the ice in time for a line change and he was fatigued. The Lightning added an empty net goal and that sealed the victory. Tampa Bay won game four 5-3 and they even the series at two games a piece.

The Lightning played much better than the Bruins at the face-off dot, winning the face-offs 39-26. Yes the Bruins did blow a three goal lead. However, lets not panic just yet. The series is tied at two and we have home ice advantage. The series is far from over.

Gold Star: Patrice Bergeron (2 goals, +1 rating, 4 shots on goal, 55% face-offs won).

Black Star: David Krejci...he had two giveaways and finished with a -3 rating. He was also only 25% from the face-off dot. Everybody has a bad game and today was his.