Bruins Notes: Boston Extends Atlantic Division Lead With Win Vs. Lightning

The Bruins picked up a crucial two points Tuesday night.

Boston held on to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 at Amalie Arena to extend its lead to nine points in the Atlantic Division.

And if this was a preview for what’s to come in the playoffs, then it’s going to be one heck of a series.

Both teams played a physical, heavy game for the full 60 minutes. Joakim Nordstrom dropped the gloves with Yanni Gourde in the second period, Brad Marchand scored a, shall we say sick, goal while Jake DeBrusk snapped his 10-game drought without a point with Boston’s insurance goal.

For DeBrusk, he was just happy to help his team win.

“It’s always nice to contribute,” he told NBCSN’s Pierre McGuire after the game.

“Any time it goes in the net it’s a nice feeling,” DeBrusk said, per NESN. “I haven’t seen that In a while. … I was just trying to fake (Andrei Vasilevskiy) out and just raise it.”

Boston will welcome the Bolts to TD Garden on Saturday. If the Black and Gold can come away with another two points, that essentially could all but seal the Atlantic Division.

Here are some other notes from Tuesday’s Bruins-Lightning game:

— Marchand did not practice Tuesday after waking up feeling under the weather. After the game, he told reporters he had a case of food poisoning.

“I felt bad for (Patrice Bergeron) and (David Pastrnak) having to put up with me, but we got it done,” he said, per NBC Sports Boston’s Joe Haggerty. “That was a big win. That’s actually the first time when I was sick that I did anything decent in the game.”

The goal, however, moved Marchand into seventh place for all-time goals for the B’s.

— The Bruins now have won three straight and eight of their last 10, something DeBrusk credited to simply playing well.

And also having a pretty solid top line.

“We got the best line in hockey,” he told McGuire. “I’m a little biased there. But it’s true.”

The trio of Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak combined for two points and nine shots on goal.

— Tuukka Rask denied 20 of the 21 shots he faced, earning his 25th win in the process.

The goalie now is 25-7-6 on the season.

Rask has been solid for the B’s this year, especially against playoff teams.

— Jeremy Lauzon had another solid game for Boston, amassing two hits with as many shots on goal in 13:41 of ice time. He’s been impressive since being recalled from Providence.

— The Bruins moved to 42-13-12 on the season.