Brett Connolly showed his former employer Saturday night exactly what it let go by trading him.
Connolly scored the game-winning goal as the Boston Bruins knocked off the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 at Amalie Arena.
The power-play tally was the winger’s fourth goal in five games, and it improved the Bruins’ record to 6-3-1.
FIRST PERIOD
The home team dominated the game’s opening minutes, maintaining near-constant pressure on backup Bruins goaltender Jonas Gustavsson. A Ryan Spooner hooking penalty gave Tampa Bay its first power play, and the Lightning capitalized with a goal that was the picture of perfect passing.
Lightning goalie Ben Bishop sent a long outlet pass up to Ondrej Palat, who in turn fed it to Vladislav Namestnikov. Namestnikov made one final pass to Nikita Kucherov, and Kucherov flipped a one-timer past Gustvasson and into the Boston net.
Boston’s penalty kill has struggled mightily this season, entering Saturday ranked third-to-last in the NHL.
As the clock ticked past the midway point of the period, the Bruins’ best scoring chance had come on a Kevan Miller shot from his own blue line that took a wacky bounce off the end boards.
Boston finally began to find its stride in the latter part of the first, though. Brad Marchand got off multiple shots on Bishop during one prolonged scoring chance, and Matt Beleskey pulled the Bruins even when he lit the lamp with 3:07 to play in the frame.
Colin Miller fired the initial shot on net, and Beleksey, after outmuscling rookie Jonathan Marchessault for the rebound, slipped an off-balance wrister past Bishop.
SECOND PERIOD
The Bruins’ penalty kill was tested again early in the second, and this time, it passed.
A hit from behind on Palat earned Beleskey a boarding call, and Zdeno Chara joined him in the box on an interference penalty 1:46 later. That gave Tampa Bay nearly four consecutive minutes of power-play time, but they couldn’t put the go-ahead goal past Gustavsson.
The second period featured zero goals but plenty of line shuffling from the Bruins, with only the Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Connolly trio remaining untouched.
Chris Kelly was assisted down the Bruins’ tunnel after blocking a shot, but although he appeared to be in some significant pain, he quickly returned to the bench.
Each team recorded 10 shots on goal in the middle frame after the Bruins outshot the Lightning 13-7 in the first.
THIRDÂ PERIOD
Joonas Kemppainen came within inches of putting the Bruins ahead less than three minutes into the third when his shot from the left circle deflected off the shin of Beleskey and then off the right post.
Connolly’s goal, which came with 14:06 to play, put the Bruins ahead for good, and an empty-netter by Marchand sealed it.
Gustavsson kept the Lightning off the board for the final 52:09 and recorded 21 saves to earn his third win in as many starts for the Bruins.
Marchand finished with a goal, an assist and a game-high five shots on goal.
UP NEXT
The B’s return home Tuesday to face the Dallas Stars, who just so happen to employ a guy named Tyler Seguin.
Thumbnail photo via Jonathan Dyer/USA TODAY Sports Images
