The Tampa Bay Lightning (1-1-0) scored once in its 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins (1-1-0) on Saturday night. The Bruins' balanced offensive attack was led by Rich Peverly, who had two goals in the game.
Boston had nine players who registered at least a point and they outshot the Lightning 42-26.
Martin St. Louis scored for the Lightning and Mathieu Garon played solid in his Lightning debut with 38 saves.
Neither team had a shot on goal until 6:24 of time elapsed in the first period, when Benoit Poullot's one-timer reached Mathieu Garon, who was forced to stand up big in the early goings of the first period. The game could have easily gotten out of hand if it wasn't for Garon's solid play in net. The Bruins held the momentum for most of the first period, peppering Garon with eight straight shots to open up the game.
Tampa Bay did not register a shot on goal until the latter parts of the first period, when Brett Connolly set up the Lightning's first scoring chance, to eventually be denied by Tim Thomas. Thomas played solid between the pipes with 25 saves.
The Lightning began applying pressure in the offensive zone but Thomas continued to stand tall in net, including a highlight save on Steven Stamkos. The Lightning were out shot 15-9 in the first period and the game remained scoreless until two minutes elapsed in the second period, when Peverly scored on a rebound to break the game's scoreless tie.
Martin St. Louis quickly answered Boston's goal after the Bruins' turn over at the Lightning's blue-line and a quick middle ice pass from Ryan Malone. St. Louis's game-tying goal was the 300th of his NHL career.
That tie didn't last too long though when Daniel Paille tipped in an Adam Mcquaid pass thirty seconds later. Paille's wrist shot was the third goal scored within three minutes.
Although the Lightning opened up the third period with a power play opportunity, they came up empty when Teddy Purcell's one timer was robbed by Thomas who made a highlight blocker save.
Peverly added his second of the night at 8:43 of the third to seal Boston's first win of the 2011-2012 season.
NOTES: St. Louis has 10 goals in his last 15 games against Boston...Claude Julien earned his 299th win...Both teams came up empty on the man advantage.