TORONTO — The Tampa Bay Lightning took the series lead after blowing out the Boston Bruins 7-1 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs' second round.
The Bolts drew first blood with a goal from Ondrej Palat a little over 7 minutes left in the first period. Just seconds later, Yanni Gourde found the back of the net to help the Bolts take a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period.
The Bolts went onto outscore the Bruins four goals to one to take a 6-2 lead at the end of the second period.
Nikita Kucherov found the back of the net thanks to a nice assist from Brayden Point to give the Bolts a 7-1 lead in the middle of the third period.
Tampa Bay played its second game in a row without Ryan McDonagh, who was scratched from Game 3 due to an injury.
SERIES SCHEDULE
- Game 1: Bruins 3, Lightning 2
- Game 2: Lightning 4, Bruins 3 (OT)
- Game 3: Lightning 7, Bruins 1
- Game 4: Friday, August 28, 7:30 p.m.
- Game 5: Sunday, August 30, 8 p.m.
- Game 6: Sept. 1, TBD
- Game 7: Sept. 2, TBD
HOW THEY GOT HERE
The Lightning secured the second seed in the Eastern Conference bracket after finishing second to the Philadelphia Flyers in round-robin play. Tampa Bay beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team the Lightning got swept by in the first round of the 2019 playoffs, in five hard-fought games.
Tampa Bay finished second in the pandemic-shortened regular season to the Boston Bruins. Despite finishing the regular season with the best record, the Bruins finished last in round-robin play so Boston secured the fourth seed in the first round of the playoffs.
The Bruins advanced to the second round after taking the series 4-1 over the Carolina Hurricanes.
