Bruins Vs. Lightning, Game 4: Bergeron’s Pair Helps Put Boston Up 3-0 After One

Mistakes and turnovers and bad plays by the Tampa Bay Lightning have them in a real bad situation after the first period of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference Final series, which they trail 2-1. The Boston Bruins got two unassisted goals by Patrice Bergeron, and lead 3-0 after 20 minutes at St. Pete Times Forum.

Early in this series, the Bruins were the ones making poor plays below their own red line. The last two games, a Lightning defenseman’s mistake deep has gotten Boston their first goal. This time, it was Viktor Hedman making an ill-advised reversal pass behind the net to Brett Clark. Clark couldn’t handle it, and it came right to Bergeron, who took it and put it five-hole on Dwayne Rolson to make it 1-0. It was Bergeron’s first goal since returning from his concussion, and third of the post-season overall.

Later in the period, the Bruins got a good break. Michael Ryder was advancing in on a 2-on-1. Ryder’s a natural shooter, so he tried for a bit of a surprise and made a pass attempt. It went off of Lightning defenseman Mike Lundin and into the net to give Boston a 2-0 lead. It was a lucky break, but they don’t ask how. It was Ryder’s fifth of the playoffs, and third of this series at 16:34 to give Boston a two-goal lead.

Almost immediately afterwards, Tampa Bay got the first power play of the game, when Dennis Seidenberg went off for a holding the stick minor at 17:51. Tampa had another unforced error, however, when Steven Stamkos made a weak pass that Patrice Bergeron swiped. Bergeron skated down the wing, and went five-hole on Roloson, and it went in. It was Bergeron’s second unassisted goal of the game and fourth goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the Bruins had a three-goal lead before the end of the first. Roloson was pulled for the second time in the series right after for Mike Smith.