The Boston Bruins expanded their lead in the Atlantic Division with a 2-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night.
Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk scored as Boston extended its winning streak to three games. Tuukka Rask made 20 saves and picked up his 25th win of the season.
“Good teams find ways to win and that’s what this year has been all about,” DeBrusk told Pierre McGuire after snapping a 10-game goalless drought.
Mitchell Stephens scored Tampa Bay’s lone goal as the Lightning fell to 1-5 in the six games following a franchise-record 11-game winning streak.
Marchand was a game-time decision and did not participate in the morning skate due to an illness. However, the Bruins alternate captain opened the scoring late in the first period. Defenseman Torey Krug saw Marchand racing to the back post and sent a puck in that direction.
DeBrusk, the likely candidate to replace Marchand on the Bruins’ top line if Marchand couldn’t go, doubled Boston’s advantage midway through the second period. DeBrusk finished a breakaway after beating Carter Verhaeghe in a foot race which led to the scoring opportunity.
The Bruins have a nine-point advantage on the Lightning in the division and are on pace to have home ice advantage through the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Scott Charles is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @ScottMCharles.