Tim Thomas' save on Steve Downie is the kind of save the can define an entire series. Absolutely incredible. The Bruins have no choice but to raise their standard of play after watching their goaltender make a save like that. In Brad Marchand's post-game press conference, he commented on the fact that in the final ten minutes of the third period when things were starting to get hectic, Thomas appeared to be poised and calm. This has a contagious effect on the entire hockey team, and it's obvious that the Bruins have the utmost confidence in their goaltender. This confidence allows the five other skaters on the ice to take risks and chances knowing that Thomas has their back. "With their goaltender, we're not nervous, we're expecting that," said Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher after Game Five. Not only does Tim Thomas' performance earn the confidence of his own team, it drains the life out of the opposition. Steve Downie remained on the bench reflecting on what could have been long after the game was finished:
The goaltending situation for the Lightning has not been as straightforward as it has been for the Bruins. I believed that, despite being pulled in Game 4, Dwayne Roloson would still start Game 5. Clearly, I was wrong. Roloson watched the game from the bench in favor of Mike Smith who made 17 saves on 19 shots.
The good news for Tampa Bay is that Roloson is 6-0 in postseason elimination games. We'll find out at 8:00 PM EST tonight if he can keep that streak alive. I believe that this series will take seven games to decide, and that the Bruins will eventually emerge victorious to play the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup finals.
Tampa Bay Lightning fans formed a human lightning bolt at the airport to show support for their team as they begun their flight to Boston for game five:
The Bruins vs. Lightning match-up has evolved into a promising series as we head into game five tonight in Boston. One of the big questions heading into tonight's game is whether or not Dwayne Roloson will be getting the start, despite giving up three goals on nine shots in the first period of game four. He was replaced by back-up Mike Smith who stood perfect for the remainder of the game and allowed Tampa Bay to score five unanswered goals to even up the series. According to an NHL.com article, all indications suggest that Roloson will be starting. According to Lightning coach Guy Boucher:
I don't think we have a situation. We have a goaltender that has taken us here and has played really well and is preparing for (Monday). And you've got a goaltender that came in relief, and he's done really well. Every time we've asked Smitty to come in, he's played well. We've got a goaltender that's taken us here, knows how to win and knows how to bounce back. I don't feel there's a situation there.
Goaltender Mike Smith seems to be in agreement with Boucher:
I don't expect to (start Game 5). But I'll be ready to. Roli's carried us through the playoffs this far and I don't expect anything less than for him to come back and have a great game.
I fully support Dwayne Roloson getting the start tonight. He deserves it. The 41-year-old goaltender has carried his team throughout the playoffs to date, and, for the most part, has been phenomenal. I believe that he understands this is most likely his last year to win a Stanley cup, and I'm sure that's not something he's taking for granted. Expect Roloson to play and stand on his head tonight. At the same time, however, note that the Lightning have outscored the Bruins 7-0 when Mike Smith has been in net, and Mike Smith has yet to allow a goal on the 27 shots he has faced. While I think that Roloson will, and should, get the start tonight, I don't think it's an obvious or easy decision for Boucher to make.
The most critical area for the Bruins to improve in is their special teams. Special teams can make or break a series. The puck movement on Tampa Bay's power play in game four was nothing short of impressive. The Lightning's power play percentage is at 23.7% for the series, compared to the Bruins who are operating at just 7.7%. It seems to me like these stats are the result of a dominant Tampa Bay power play with Stamkos, Lecavalier and St. Louis, combined with a struggling Bruins penalty kill. The Bruins are killing off just 81.8% of penalties, versus the Lightning who are killing off 92.8% of theirs. This is clearly a problem the Bruins must address and improve to be successful moving forward.
The Bruins will also need to pay special attention to Teddy Purcell who scored the first two goals for Tampa Bay in game four that started their comeback. Sean Bergenheim had the third goal of that same game, and he now leads the league in postseason goals.
What do Tyler Seguin and I have in common? Well, we're both 19 years old - and that's about where the similarities end. While I try to enjoy the last few weeks of high school with my friends before graduation, Seguin is trying to win a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins. The second overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft scored the first playoff goal of his career in game one of the Eastern Conference finals, his first career playoff game, and carried that momentum right into game two. Seguin stole the spotlight in Boston's 6-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night with two goals and two assists - all in the second period.
After the game, Seguin was fairly humble about his performance. He got the chance to play in this series to begin with because Patrice Bergeron is out with a concussion. Seguin commented about what it's like to play after not seeing any ice time in the first two rounds:
It’s definitely tough watching from above. I try to take everything in and learn as much as I can, but it's hard sitting there and not being able to help out the boys. I wanted to take advantage of any opportunity I got.
In the same post-game press conference, Seguin mentioned the support he received from older, more experienced teammates, and commented numerous times on his desire to simply seize any opportunities given to him. He referred to his rookie season as a learning curve, and said that he felt "more confident and more poised" as the season progressed.
Although Seguin has been spectacular in game one and game two, I would be cautious to say that the learning curve is over just yet. It will be interesting to see how he performs from here on out.
Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher referred to the lack of structure in game two as "pond hockey," and went on to say that "even if we would have won that game, we certainly would not have been happy with the way we played."
Roloson didn't have the kind of game that fans have almost began to take for granted from him, but it's just one game out of a best of seven series. Expect him to have a solid game three and four when the series moves down to Florida. Roloson let in 6 goals on the 27 shots he faced, but still managed to come up with some impressive saves, especially in the first period. He was replaced by Mike Smith at the start of the third period.
Guy Boucher on Dwayne Roloson in game two:
Notable Performances
Boston Bruins:
Tyler Seguin - 2 goals, 2 assists; +3; first star of the game
Michael Ryder - 2 goals, 1 assist; +2; third star of the game
Nathan Horton - 1 goal, 2 assists
Tampa Bay Lightning:
Steven Stamkos - 1 goal, 2 assists; -1
Vincent Lecavalier - 1 goal, 3 assists; +1; second star of the game
Martin St. Louis - 1 goal, 1 assists; -1
If tonight proved anything, it proved that this is going to be one crazy series. Don't be surprised if it takes seven games to declare a winner.
