Where the Lightning were aggressive in the first two periods, the Bolts were in a panic for the final 20 minutes. With the game tied and with Tampa desperate for a win, the players were losing their cool. Finally, the Bolts scored 4 min in, after dumping the puck behind the Boston net. Goalie Tim Thomas retrieved the puck and sent it back up ice, but Nate Thompson made a quick steal and passed to Dominic Moore, who in turn gave the puck to Ryan Malone in front of the goal. Malone tucked the puck between Thomas's knees before he could get set back in front of the net. Thomas fell backwards, trying to sit on it, but he was far too late.
That said, the Bruins goalie Tim Thomas was quite a spectacle this evening, diving backwards and making dramatic saves that made you wonder if he is really, really good or if luck has been involved. Replay showed Thomas stopping a would be goal from Brett Connolly in the second with his mask. Another shot was on-goal after ricocheting off a skate blade, but Thomas adjusted, threw himself backwards, took the puck to the waist, and it slid and to a stop against the post, magically staying out of the net until a Bruin defender stole the puck away.
The Bears (Bruins) tied the game at 3-3 when Daniel Paille scored shorthanded for Boston. Both teams in turn survived a heartpounding 4-on-4 shortly after and both teams were clearly losing their cool. The Lightning then pulled ahead when Dominc Moore sent a fastball over the high glove of Thomas. Moore's fourth on the season came in the 17th minute and was shot from 43 feet. The Bruins, in shock, then went into a frenzy and desperately tried to score. The puck did not leave from the Lightning side until Garon fell on it to stop the clock with 26 seconds remaining. The puck dropped after a quick timeout, and then Stamkos iced the Bruins by scoring on an empty net. The game ends 5-3, in a thrilling and much needed fashion for the Bolts.
Easily overlooked in this game will be Matt Gilroy, who kept the puck on net whenever he hit the ice. Gilroy scored his first goal for the Bolts on Sunday against the Penguins, and had an assist in the first and the second for each goal scored.
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