Lightning Strike Late as Bruins Let Outdoor Classic Slip Away in Wild Finish
In a game that had everything from highlight-reel goals to a full-blown goalie fight, the Boston Bruins let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers under the open skies. What started as a showcase of dominance turned into a chaotic, penalty-ridden rollercoaster that ended with a 6-5 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL Stadium Series.
Fast Start, Faster Fall
The puck had barely dropped before the Bruins found themselves behind. Brandon Hagel wasted no time, scoring just 11 seconds in after beating his defender clean and slipping the puck past Jeremy Swayman to give Tampa Bay an early 1-0 lead.
But Boston responded with poise. Alex Steeves buried a centering feed from Michael Eyssimont to even the score, and from there, the Bruins took over the first period.
Morgan Geekie snuck in a tip-in goal that caught just about everyone-including the broadcast crew-off guard. Then Viktor Arvidsson added another redirection tally, giving Boston a 3-1 cushion heading into the second.
Second Period Mayhem
Things really went off the rails in the second.
First, the good: Matthew Poitras, back in the lineup, showed off his hands with a slick backhand goal to stretch the lead to 4-1. Then Geekie struck again, finishing off a 2-on-1 with David Pastrnak to make it 5-1. At that point, it looked like the Bruins were in full control.
Then came the chaos.
A series of scrums broke out, culminating in a rare goalie fight between Swayman and Andrei Vasilevskiy. The penalties piled up, and with them, Boston’s lead began to evaporate. Tampa Bay’s power play went to work, and the Bruins’ penalty kill simply couldn’t keep up.
Oliver Bjorkstrand capitalized on a rebound in front. Darren Raddysh launched a rocket from the point. And Nick Paul-who always seems to find a way to hurt Boston-tipped in a shot to make it 5-4 by the end of the second.
Third Period Collapse
The third period was all about missed chances and missed assignments. With the game back at even strength, the Bruins had their opportunities to close it out.
But instead, it was Nikita Kucherov who rose to the moment, burying the game-tying goal off a sharp feed. No power play help, no controversy-just a clean play that exposed a lapse in Boston’s backcheck.
Overtime & Shootout: Lightning Finish the Job
Overtime saw Tampa Bay continue to press. They earned another power play, but even without converting, the momentum was all theirs. Boston looked tentative, and the Lightning took full advantage of the open ice.
In the shootout, Jake Guentzel delivered the dagger, beating Swayman to complete the comeback and seal a 6-5 win for Tampa Bay.
What Happened? A Tale of Two Halves
This was a game Boston had in the bag. They were up 5-1, playing confident, physical hockey, and taking advantage of some shaky puck tracking from Vasilevskiy on the outdoor ice. But then came the undisciplined penalties-some avoidable, some questionable-and the Lightning’s elite talent took over.
Tampa Bay went 3-for-8 on the power play, while Boston only had three chances with the man advantage, all in the first period. That discrepancy tells a big part of the story. The Bruins lost their composure, and the Lightning knew exactly how to exploit it.
But even beyond the special teams battle, the tying and opening goals came at even strength. Hagel and Kucherov simply beat their matchups. That’s not on the refs-that’s on Boston’s defensive structure.
Swayman’s Night: More Than the Numbers
Jeremy Swayman faced nearly 45 shots, with the bulk of that workload coming during the second period meltdown. His .891 save percentage doesn’t tell the full story-he made several point-blank saves that kept the game from getting out of hand.
Oh, and he dropped the gloves with Vasilevskiy. Not something you see every day.
Still, the flood of shots and breakdowns in front of him were too much to overcome. The Bruins’ defense, especially when down a man (or two), simply didn’t hold up.
Looking Ahead
This one stings. Not just because it was a blown lead, but because it was a statement game on a national stage.
Boston had the Lightning on the ropes and let them off the hook. They still walked away with a point, but it’s the kind of game that leaves a bitter taste-especially if these teams meet again in the playoffs.
The Bruins are now 4-2-0 in outdoor games, and while that record is solid, this one will be remembered more for what was lost than what was gained.
With one game left before the Olympic break-a showdown with the Florida Panthers on Wednesday-Boston has to regroup quickly. The trade deadline looms, and decisions will need to be made.
Can this team win a playoff series against a squad like Tampa Bay? That’s the question Don Sweeney and the front office will have to answer soon.
For now, it’s back to the drawing board. The Bruins showed they can hang with the best. Now it’s about proving they can finish.