By Joe Haggerty
CSNNE.com
TAMPAThe Tampa Bay Lightning had been waiting for special teams to become a difference-maker in the series, and Game 6 was their night.
The Bolts' power play snapped an 0-for-11 streak of futility against the Bruins in the series by scoring three goals. Boston's power play unit, on the other hand, sputtered to an 0-for-4 and the Lightning won, 5-4, forcing a Game 7 in Boston on Friday.
The Bs actually held the lead in the game after the first period despite giving up the games first goal just 36 seconds into the game. A Vinny Lecavalier face-off win turned into a Teddy Purcell one-timer that none of the Bruins appeared to pick up as it sizzled into the net.
But the Bs fought back while focusing their attack at the high glove side of Dwayne Roloson. Milan Lucic snagged his third goal of the playoffs with a shot that nicked off Rolosons glove hand, and David Krejci followed nine minutes later after a sweet backhanded feed from Daniel Paille.
Thats where the good times ended for the Bruins, however.
Tampa Bay took over in the second period and worked hard for power play goals from Marty St. Louis and Purcell once again. The St. Louis score arrived off a Dennis Seidenberg cross-checking call in front of the net, and was a third effort score as the puck bounced around the net.
Boston Bruins
Purcell took a nice Downie feed and somehow worked the puck between the right arm and chest of Tim Thomas 13:35 into the second period.
Steve Stamkos scored the eventual game-winner on a PP marker less than a minute into the third period, and provided Boston with much too high a hill to climb in a comeback.
Krejci potted a power goal midway through the third to make it a one-goal game, but a St. Louis odd man rush gave the Lightning a 5-3 lead.
Krejci scored again to earn a hat trick and cut the Bolts' lead to one, but the Bruins' scoring ended there. Joe Haggerty can be reached at jhaggerty@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Joe on Twitter at http:twitter.comHackswithHaggs