Top 3 takeaways from Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 4
The Tampa Bay Lightning have the Boston Bruins against the ropes after a 3-1 win in Game 4.
After a two-day hiatus due to the postponement of postseason games, the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning got back on the ice on Saturday for a critical Game 4. The Lightning took control of the game early and never let go, as they came away with a 3-1 win.
With that win, Tampa now holds a 3-1 series lead over Boston. Meanwhile, the defending Eastern Conference champions are against the ropes after a second straight disappointing performance against the Lightning. They’ll have to overcome a 3-1 deficit if they want to stay in the Toronto bubble.
Let’s take a look at three takeaways from Game 4.
3. Black Lives Matter
It took a while for the NHL to actually say those three words. But they did it.
“When an issue is bigger than the game, we must speak up, starting with three words we need to get comfortable saying: Black Lives Matter.”
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 29, 2020
The @TBLightning and @NHLBruins hold a moment of solidarity ahead of their puck drop. pic.twitter.com/MNezYvr4n2
Even when the NHL postponed its games for two days due to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, the league seemed afraid to say those three words. But in a video before the game, those three words were said. And they were powerful.
Obviously, the NHL still has a lot of work to do. The league is still light years behind the NFL and NBA as far as addressing social issues. More has to be done. But this was a significant step forward for the NHL. Hopefully, the league will continue to listen to the Hockey Diversity Alliance and support them. And hopefully, the HDA will continue to push for the bold changes necessary to ensure that hockey can provide a safe, welcoming environment for everyone.
For those who might say “stick to sports”, consider this. Politics and sports have been intertwined for years. Pretty much since sports have existed, sports and politics have often overlapped. Consider how Muhammad Ali was one of the most crucial figures of the civil rights movement. Even hockey’s greatest moment, The Miracle On Ice, had political undertones. These athletes have a unique platform and they’re using it to try to make this world a better place.
2. Boston Needs To Be More Disciplined
Game 3 quickly got out of hand for the Boston Bruins thanks to their lack of discipline. The Tampa Bay Lightning scored seven goals and three of those came on the power play. Game 4 didn’t go much better for the Bruins, as they gave Tampa five power plays. Though the Lightning only scored one of them, it’s hard to create offense when you’re a man down.
It’s clear the Bruins are trying to get in the Lightning’s heads with their physicality. And it’s also clear this strategy isn’t working at all. If anything, it’s working against them.
Take, for example, Nick Ritchie‘s pitiful Game 4. In the second period, he got a five-minute major for boarding Yanni Gourde, nearly taking him out of the game, though Gourde returned in the third period. Ritchie ended the game with 12 penalty minutes. By comparison, he spent just 10:18 on the ice. There’s a non-zero chance this is the last time Ritchie will play in this postseason.
The Lightning in the Bruins heads right now. They’ve completely thrown them off their game in the past two games. Tampa has made Boston look downright silly. This is when the Bruins leadership group needs to get their team focused and ready to play on Monday for Game 5.
1. Tampa’s Big Guns Showed Up
In Game 4 on Saturday, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s best players were their best players. While their third line was once again effective, they were held off the scoresheet, a rarity in this year’s postseason. It didn’t matter because Tampa got what they needed from their best players.
Two of Tampa’s three goals came from Ondrej Palat, who now has four goals and eight points in 12 postseason games. Brayden Point got the lone assist on Palat’s first goal, giving him 10 assists and 16 points so far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nikita Kucherov was very active and also picked up two assists, giving him 16 points in 12 games. Even Victor Hedman, who has been relatively quiet this postseason, got his fourth goal and seventh point of the playoffs.
And of course, Andrei Vasilevskiy looked like a Vezina Trophy winner in net, stopping all but one of the 30 shots on goal that he saw. 21 of those shots on goal were in the final 40 minutes.
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Tampa didn’t play their strongest game on Saturday. But because their best players stepped up, they still managed to come out with a 3-1 win. It’s hard to stop the Tampa Bay Lightning when their top guys are playing this well.