By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Monday, May 23, 2011
Three stars
Tim Thomas: The Bruins goalie backed up his series guarantee with a huge game, making 33 saves.
Zdeno Chara: The Bruins defenseman was a presence on both ends of the ice, including picking up an assist.
Simon Gagne: The Lightning left wing kept being a Bruins killer, scoring the game's first goal on a 2-on-1 rush.
Instigator
When Bruins C Rich Peverley was asked Monday if being on the fourth line, which demands a grittier game, contributed to his Game 4 fight with Lightning D Marc-Andre Bergeron, Peverley said it had more to do with Tampa Bay RW Steve Downie. "I was just a little agitated at the time," Peverley said. "I think Downie cross-checked me four times in a row. Tempers were going a little bit."
Number of the day
13:22 Average ice time entering Monday for Lightning RW Teddy Purcell, least (by almost four minutes) among the top 15 playoff scorers. He was ninth with 15 points.
Tickets
Game 6 at the St. Pete Times Forum is sold out. Any unused team tickets will be released Wednesday. Check with the box office and Ticketmaster.
The series Bruins lead 3-2
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.
Game 3, Bruins 2, Lightning 0: Bruins prevail in tight defensive game.
Game 4, Lightning 5, Bruins 3: Lightning scores five unanswered goals.
Game 5, Bruins 3, Lightning 1: Tim Thomas huge with 33 saves.
Wednesday: at Tampa, 8, Versus, 620-AM
Friday: at Boston, 8, Versus, 970-AM *
* If necessary
Miscommunication
Were comments attributed to Bruins G Tim Thomas after Game 3 misinterpreted or misrepresented? Matt Kalman of TheBruinsBlog.net seems to think so.
While Tampa Bay players made into an insult (and a motivational tool) Thomas saying he was "comfortable" in net during Boston's 2-0 victory, Kalman points out the word seemed taken out of context. Thomas, Kalman wrote, was talking about how his teammates made him feel by the way they kept to their team structure.
"At no point," Kalman wrote, "did (Thomas) say anything mildly insulting about the Lightning or the way they play."
So, was it the Lightning or reporters that skewed the original message?
Kalman called the whole thing a "media fallacy," so we know where he stands.
Quote to note
"I think if you know the game well enough, you would understand that there is some experience back there. And you've also got to think, is the guy coming in better than Kaberle?"
Bruins coach Claude Julien in defense of struggling D Tomas Kaberle
Welcome home
Fans are invited to welcome the Lightning home from Boston. The team's charter flight is scheduled to arrive at 2 p.m. at the Tampa Jet Center, 4751 Jim Walter Blvd.