Bruins Upset After ‘Cheap’ Last-Second Cross-Check Vs. Lightning

The Bruins had a rather eventful end to a 4-1 loss Thursday night at Amalie Arena.

Boston’s Mark Kastelic and Tampa Bay’s Emil Lilleberg dropped the gloves in the final five seconds of the game to conclude the Lightning win. Lilleberg also received a major penalty and a game misconduct for cross-checking. The fight marked an energized end to what otherwise marked a frustrating loss as the Bruins allowed four goals in the final 34 minutes.

The Bruins had no issue with Kastelic standing up for himself, which also led to a multi-player scuffle at the final buzzer with Boston remaining on the bench for several minutes before tensions cooled.

“He got cross-checked,” Boston head coach Joe Sacco told reporters, per NESN’s postgame coverage. “He got cross-checked right in the face. He got a five-minute major for it.”

“It was a pretty cheap cross-check, I thought,” Boston center Morgan Geekie told reporters, per NESN’s postgame coverage. “I don’t blame him for what he did. I haven’t talked to him or anything. Obviously, we’re not too happy about that.”

The Bruins found fire in the final seconds of a disgruntling loss and need to flip momentum to end a six-game losing streak.