By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Net presence
Lightning C Nate Thompson doesn't like the goal nets at Boston's TD Garden. The netting is too loose. Pucks that hit the net are swallowed and fall to the ice. Tighter nets act like a trampoline and bounce pucks out. Why does Thompson, right, care? "When you see the puck go in (on a goal) and out pretty quick, there's that illusion your shot is harder than it really is," he said. "When it's loose like that, (the puck) just falls like it barely went in." Thompson said the nets at the St. Pete Times Forum are better. "They're pretty tight. I scored one earlier this year when (the puck) went in and out pretty quick. It made me feel pretty good about it."
Same is different
Much was made in the Boston media after the Lightning's 5-2 Game 1 win about how Tampa Bay "changed" from its usual 1-3-1 defensive posture to a more forecheck-heavy system that caught the Bruins off-guard. If Boston truly was surprised, that would be because of bad coaching. The Lightning has alternated its defensive systems all season. "The 1-3-1 gets a lot of attention," C Steven Stamkos said. "It's different, and people like to talk about that. But we went to something we've done all year. It wasn't anything that was a big adjustment for us. It was made more of a big deal than it really was."
Three stars
Tyler Seguin: The Bruins prized rookie center had four points in the second period (two goals, two assists) to tie the league record for points in a playoff period held by, among others, Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky.
Vinny Lecavalier: The Lightning center scored a goal and had three assists for a team playoff record four-point night and created other quality scoring chances.
Michael Ryder: The Bruins wing scored two goals, both in the final five minutes of the second period, and added an assist for a three-point night.
Quote to note
"Everybody would rather there be a lot of pressure than no pressure. Nobody would like it if you're in Florida and there's less pressure. This is the Stanley Cup playoffs. You have to be under the heat every day."
Bruins D Tomas Kaberle
Tickets
Games 3 and 4 and a potential Game 6 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa are sold out, though unused team tickets might be released on game days. Check with the box office at (813) 301-6600 and Ticketmaster (outlets, ticketmaster.com, toll-free 1-800-745-3000).
The series Tied 1-1
Game 1, Lightning 5, Bruins 2: Three goals in 1:25 of the first spark Lightning.
Game 2, Bruins 6, Lightning 5: Bruins score five in the second.
Thursday: at Tampa Bay, 8, Versus
Saturday: at Tampa Bay, 1:30, Ch. 8
Monday: at Boston, 8, Versus
May 25: at Tampa Bay, 8, Versus *
May 27: at Boston, 8, Versus *
Radio: 970-AM except May 25, which is 620-AM
* If necessary