TAMPA — The Bruins had a good gameplan for 40 minutes against the Presidents’ Trophy winning Lightning. Secondary scoring, structured puck possession and assertiveness in all three zones all contributed to their 4-2 lead after 40 minutes Monday night at Amalie Arena.
The final 20, however, was different.
A fatigued Bruins squad — playing with five defensemen following John Moore’s first period exit — at the end of their four-game road trip got careless with the puck. The talented Bolts saw this and quickened the tempo with odd-man rushes and quality scoring chances.
Pernnial Norris Trophy candidate Victor Hedman, Hart Trophy favorite Nikita Kucherov and talented young winger Anthony Cirelli struck in a roughly 14-minute span to put a damper on an otherwise solid Boston roadie.