Top 3 takeaways from Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 4

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.