Stamkos Scores Twice, Bruins Rally to Beat Lightning

It's been about three months since the last time they did this, but the Bruins finally won three consecutive games. After taking two games out in California, the B's returned home on Tuesday night as they defeated the Lightning, 5-2. 

Steven Stamkos -- who leads the NHL with 55 goals -- got the scoring started early in the first period with a slap-shot right past Tim Thomas. Just moments later, Shawn Thornton would spark some energy for Boston as he tied the game at one. 

Despite outshooting Tampa, 11-5, the B's were unable to gain an advantage. However, the Lightning came out absolutely flat in the second period, allowing the Bruins to establish the momentum they needed. 

After a short scrap, Gregory Campbell and Keith Aulie were both sent to the box for roughing. Some 4-on-4 hockey was all Boston needed to score another goal as Dennis Seidenberg gave them the 2-1 lead. 

The Bruins entered the game with a 29-0-0 record when leading after two, and they held the Bolts to eight shots through two periods. Nothing could go wrong, right? 

Wrong. 

A Johnny Boychuk tripping call put Tampa on the power play in the third, and of course, Stamkos took advantage of that as he lit the lamp (again) and tied the game at two. But as the gritty Bruins have shown many times, they just kept fighting back. 

"Just kept on plugging along and waiting for our opportunities. I think we played a pretty solid game for the full sixty minutes, so I think the guys did a really good job," said Shawn Thornton.

The Black-and-Gold took complete control in the third period as Benoit Pouliot gave them the 3-2 lead. Brian Rolston picked up the assist on Pouliot's goal, extending his point streak to seven games.

Later in the the third period, Brad Marchand extended the lead as he scored his 26th of the season. Rich Peverley capped off the scoring with an empty-netter.

Although he gave up four goals, Dwayne Roloson made some impressive saves but he obviously wasn't happy with Tuesday's outcome. 

"You can paint a picture whatever way you want it, or you can frame a picture whatever way you want it; put a good frame on it, the picture is going to look good, right?," said the Lightning goaltender. "So for us, we’re not mathematically out so we’re still hoping for that." 

Umm ... sure, buddy. Hockey or philosophy?

Stamkos also shared his thoughts about the loss and his team's current situation in regards to the playoffs. 

And just to think that the Lightning were one win away from going to the Stanley Cup Finals last year. 

But unlike Roloson and Stamkos, Tim Thomas was all smiles in the Bruins locker-room after the game. 

The B's have six games left before the playoffs, but those six games could have major implications in the standings.

"Well, I think we are on the right track like I’ve been saying, but there’s always room to improve and get better. We can’t be just sitting on three wins now and be happy about it," said Zdeno Chara. "We can enjoy the win tonight, and get ready for tomorrow’s practice and the next opponent. It won’t be an easy game, which it never is. We have a tough opponent these last few games and we just got to be ready, we got to play up to our level and be the best every game.