Bruins Finally Play Like A Contender

BOSTON – That’s the exact effort Boston Bruins fans have been waiting for all season.

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The Bruins played one of their most complete games of the season and finished with a 6-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday at TD Garden. The Bruins needed a response game, especially given how they weren’t happy with the way the Lightning beat the Bruins 4-1 last week in Tampa. Boston took exception to Emil Lilleberg’s cross check to the face of Mark Kastelic, who then missed the last two games with an injury.

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So, the Bruins were looking for a bit of revenge and they achieved it in every aspect.

“It’s important. That was an emotional win,” said Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman, who finished with 43 saves. “The way (Tampa) handled the end of the game when we were in Florida was unacceptable. Our guys stepped up and we made a statement tonight and that’s a good feeling as a group, coming together and getting the job done the right way, the respectful way. That’s something we can build on as a group and move forward with.”

Bruins’ Trent Frederic dropped the gloves and gave Lilleberg a decent beating at 7:37 of the second period.

“Just sticking up for my team,” Frederic simply said.

Fans have also been waiting for Matt Poitras to return to Boston since he’s been lighting it up for the Providence Bruins. The 20-year-old centerman was recalled Tuesday and returned to the lineup against Tampa. He assisted on Frederic’s goal to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 4:34 of the first period. Poitras skated in on a 2-on-1, showed patience with the puck by waiting out a sliding Nick Perbix, and sent a pass to Frederic for the goal.

“It felt good to get out there, get the puck on my stick early, feel like and was fortunate enough to capitalize,” Poitras said.

Overall, he said he felt good about his game.

“The legs felt good and felt like I was moving well,” he said. “Obviously, every game there are a couple of plays you want back and I still have some things to clean up, but I felt pretty good.”

It was also night of firsts for the Bruins.

Defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, who was playing in his 76th NHL game, scored his first career goal to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead at 9:31 of the first period. David Pastrnak, who assisted on the goal, made sure to collect the keepsake puck for his teammate.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for that moment,” Wotherspoon said. “It’s big. My mom was in the crowd tonight, too, so it makes it a little bit bigger and I know she’s going to be fired up.”

Defenseman Michael Callahan, of Franklin, Mass., made his NHL debut for the Bruins. He started the day in Providence and was promoted prior to game time in Boston.

“I felt good out there. I just wanted to go out and play my game and it felt good to help the team get a win,” he said. “Just wearing the jersey and being from here means a lot to me and my family, so hopefully there’s a lot more to come and getting the win is what I’ll remember the most.”

Fans will remember how the Bruins finally looked like a playoff contender against the Lightning and now Boston only needs to continue its momentum on a more consistent basis.