Thomas helps Bruins take 2-1 series lead
Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins warms up prior to Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at St Pete Times Forum. (May 19, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
TAMPA, Fla. -- Tim Thomas rebounded from two tough games in grand fashion.
Thomas made 31 saves for his first playoff shutout this season and second overall, Andrew Ference and David Krejci scored and the Boston Bruins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-0, last night to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
"That felt more like a normal game," Thomas said. "That felt like the game we played most of the season. Playoffs are always faster and more energy and a few more scoring chances than a regular-season game, but that was Boston Bruins hockey."
Thomas, the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy as the top regular-season goalie, gave up nine goals in the first two games of the series.
"As the game goes on, he keeps making saves, feels better about himself and is gaining confidence," Lightning right winger Martin St. Louis said.
Ference made it 2-0 with a shot from the point at 8:12 of the third when the puck trickled between goalie Dwayne Roloson's legs and into the net. Roloson finished with 23 saves.
Game 4 is Saturday night in Tampa.
Patrice Bergeron returned to Boston's lineup after missing two games because of a concussion he suffered in Game 7 against the Flyers in the second round. He had two shots, won 18 of 28 faceoffs and played 19:13.
"You could see the difference he makes," Bruins coach Claude Julien said.
Krejci, alone in the low slot, opened the scoring on a backhander just 1:09 into the first. He has six goals and 11 points in his last seven games.
Boston is 7-0 during the postseason when scoring the first goal of the game.
Krejci was briefly shaken up late in the first when he was hit in the neutral zone by Tampa Bay defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron, who received a minor penalty for elbowing.
"We got some chances and their goalie made some good saves," Lightning center Steven Stamkos said. "We're not panicking. We've got to be ready for the next one." -- AP
