Lightning Defeat Bruins

In a disappointing game, the Bruins take a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The B's put up 50 shots on goal, while the Lightning only had 18 shots on goal. Steve Stamkos and Paul Szczechura each had a pair of goals for the Lightning. Martin St. Louis was their other goal scorer.

Zdeno Chara, Johnny Boychuck, and Mark Rechi each scored a goal for the B's. Since the Winter Classic, the Bruins had not scored three regulation goals at home before Thursday. Boston has won only 2 of their last 14 home games.

Shawn Thornton had a questionable hit against Kurtis Foster in the second period. Foster, who went face-first into the glass, was looked at by the trainer, but he skated off on his own. No penalty was called; Foster sat out the third period. Last night was the first day of the NHL's new rule banning blindside hits to the head, so Thornton could be sanctioned by the league.

Boston's Vladimir Sobotka missed the game with a head injury. The Bruins have no power-play goals in their last eight games. David Krejci had a pair of assists for the Bruins, giving him four two-point performances in the last eight games and 101 assists in his career. Chara left 2 minutes into the third period when he was hit by St. Louis' slapshot in the right hand. He left and went to the bench, where he sat with an icepack on his hand before returning with 16:32 left.