Lightning Victory Photo by Alexis Boucher

Tonight’s Game 6 at the St. Pete Times Forum was much like the roller coasters at nearby Busch Gardens theme park. Ups, downs, flips, twists, and turns. The Lightning game out relatively strong in the first with Teddy Purcell opening the scoring just 36 seconds into the game after a key face off win by Vinny Lecavalier. Boston took over from there. Boston was playing hard hitting man on man coverage. They kept the Lightning from getting into their zone and getting more than one shot on Tim Thomas at once. Boston tied the game seven minutes into the first and took the lead with four minutes before the first intermission.

The second period started off slowly for the Lightning. There were some questions as to whether or not Roloson should have gotten a start in net after looking shaky in the first.  The Lightning were often short handed, but their adept penalty kept them in the game. Their dangerous power play also put them into the lead in the second with goals by Marty St. Louis and a second goal from Teddy Purcell.

Tampa went up another goal early in the third from Steven Stamkos on a power play carrying over from before intermission. Boston is too good of a team to let things end that way, coming a goal closer to tying the score. Marty St. Louis scored his second of the night around 10 minutes into the period and the Lightning maintained the two goal lead until David Krejci brought the Bruins within one goal yet again. Somehow, the Bolts hung on for the win.

The play wasn’t perfect, but a win is a win. More tomorrow when we’ve all gotten some sleep.