Bruins light up Lightning on Causeway street

The Bruins and Lightning squared off from the TD Banknorth Garden on Tuesday night, and the Bruins took care of business for their fourth straight victory.

The game was a physical battle from the beginning as before the halfway point of the first, captain Zdeno got into it. Evgeny Artyukhin was in the midst of going after Milan Lucic, when Chara stepped in and told him to take on someone his own size. Artyukhin isn't as big as Chara, but is a healthy 6'5, 255. However, Artyukhin was still no match for the massive Slovak.

The Bruins carried the momentum after the fight and it paid off with a Blake Wheeler tally. Wheeler corralled a Marc Savard rebound and backhand slammed it past Tampa Bay goaltender, Mike McKenna.

Into the second it went and the captain was active yet again. This time, Chara scored goal number 17 of the year which matches his career high set last season. Chara took a nice pass from Patrice Bergeron and the B's took a two-goal lead on the Lightning.

The scoring wouldn't end there in the second for Boston as Chuck Kobasew was next to light the lamp. Kobasew's goal gave him 20 on the season, in just his 62nd game. The tally gave Kobasew 40 points, which is a new career high for Chucky.

The Bruins would not go quietly into the locker room, as at the end of the third period, Milan Lucic TKO'd Josef Melichar with two blows. Melichar had caught Lucic high with the elbow and Lucic took exception. Advantage Lucic in a very uneven bout.

In the third period, the Lightning did not quit and were eventually able to beat Manny Fernandez and break up the goaltender's shutout bid. It was number one overall pick in last year's draft, Steve Stamokos beating Fernandez for his 20th of the season.

The Bruins were able to hold off a late Lightning comeback attempt and take two points. The win does not clinch the conference for the Bruins, but it sure does seem like it.

The Bruins now have a nine point lead in the Eastern Conference with just six games to go. The Bruins will next play Thursday night in Boston against Ottawa.

Here are some BruinSpace game notes:

*Phil Kessel missed his third straight game due to injury. Kessel is questionable against Ottawa on Thursday but may return Saturday against the Rangers. Kessel's injury status is unknown.

*Shawn Thornton missed tonight's game with an undisclosed injury. Thornton's status for Thursday's game is unknown.

*Local writers named Bruins center Patrice Bergeron the Boston nominee for the Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Here is an updated look at the standings.

1) Boston: 108 points - (6 games remaining)

2) Washington: 99 points - (6 games remaining)

3) New Jersey: 98 points - (6 games remaining)

4) Philadelphia: 92 points - (7 games remaining)

5) Carolina: 91 points - (5 games remaining)

6) Pittsburgh: 90 points - (6 games remaining)

7) NY Rangers: 89 points - (5 games remaining)

8) Montreal: 88 points - (6 games remaining)

9) Florida: 87 points - (5 games remaining)