Bruins Bruise Bolts 3-1: Where's Wides?

The Boston Bruins didn't bring their A-game down to Tampa Bay, but even without a top-flight performance the Bruins were able to pick up two points.

Two Bruins defensemen were forced to make their 08-09 NHL debuts Thursday night as both Aaron Ward and Dennis Wideman were held out of the action due to injury. Now we all knew Ward had a leg injury, but what about Wideman? I still haven't heard an update as of yet but I would expect Wideman is suffering from groin issues. I commented on this, this week but I didn't think this was a serious issue. Stay tuned.

Now to the game. In the first two minutes the Bruins did something they've done a lot lately, fell behind. A neutral zone mishap by Zdeno Chara let Vincent Lecavalier break down the left wing and slide the puck to an uncovered Martin St. Louis who put the puck into the vacant net.

The first seven minutes were dominated by the Lightning with the Bruins failing to generate any offensive pressure. It was very similar to the Bruins start against the Red Wings Saturday night. The Bruins started to play a little better at the end of the period but still went into the locker room down a goal.

The Lightning came out buzzing again to start the second and probably should have taken a two goal lead but missed a golden opportunity. The Bruins turned the tide and started getting offensive zone pressure. About eight minutes into the second, Phil Kessel driving down the right wing beat Mike Smith to the far side but clanged the iron.

Fear not, as less than five minutes later Kessel was able to find the back of the net. Kessel kept the puck in on the right wall, filtering the puck down low to Marc Savard. Savard found a streaking Kessel in front of the goal and it was 1-1. The Bruins controlled most of the second periods remains and skated into the locker room with the momentum.

About five minutes into the third Tim Thomas was able to stone Steve Downie on a clean look and was bowled over for his efforts.

Later in the period the Bruins found themselves on the penalty kill but have no fear, David Krejci is here. Krejci received a breakout pass from Blake Wheeler, curled and dragged past a Lightning defender and put the puck in the back of the net. Talk about a back breaker, a shorty in the ladder half of the third period to take the lead.

The Lightning had some late pressure but the Bruins were able to pull it out. Kessel was able to slide in an empty netter with under a second to play and the Bruins took the first half of the Florida swing, 3-1.