Point, Lightning hold off Bruins to even series

[May 01, 2018]  Yanni Gourde, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Brayden Point each scored one goal, and the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the visiting Boston Bruins 4-2 Monday night at Amalie Arena.

Point had an empty-net goal and three assists for the Lightning, who evened the best-of-seven series at a game apiece. Game 3 will be played in Boston on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 18 shots.

Charlie McAvoy and Torey Krug scored one goal apiece and Brad Marchand had two assists for the Bruins.

Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask made 27 saves in the loss.

With Tampa Bay up 2-1, David Pastrnak was whistled for a double minor for high sticking in the third period, giving the Lightning a four-minute power play. The Bruins killed off the double minor and still trailed by a goal with 8:30 remaining in the game.

The Lightning surged ahead 3-1 when Palat scored at 14:08. Point registered his third assist on the huge goal, which helped to secure the victory.

Krug got the Bruins within one goal at 15:58 -- his third tally of the playoffs.

Tampa Bay went ahead 2-1 when Johnson flipped the puck over Rask's shoulder and into the back of the net at 10:14 of the second.

The Bruins received a power play when Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman was called for holding, but they couldn't capitalize for the third time on the man advantage.

 Lightning center Brayden Point (21) is congratulated by left wing Alex Killorn (17 as he scores a goal on an empty net goal during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Boston Bruins 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Lightning dominated most of the first, outshooting Boston 9-0 to open the game. On an early power play, Steven Stamkos skated in and fired a shot from a tough angle that was saved by Rask.

Tampa Bay kept up the offensive pressure on another power play and struck first for a 1-0 lead when Gourde scored at 11:47 on the team's 10th shot.

The Bruins finally responded and were awarded a two-man advantage for 1:45 after penalties to Johnson and Ryan McDonagh late in the first period. Pastrnak immediately clanged a wrist shot off the post. Bruins center David Krejci then ripped a slap shot and saw the laser ricochet off both posts and out of the crease.

McAvoy then tied the game at 1 for Boston at 18:30 of the opening period, shortly after the power play ended.

--Field Level Media

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