Boston Bruins Beat Lightning 4-3. B’s Point Streak Now Eight Games.

Jan 13, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins right wing

(88) hands a young fan a stick after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Bruins(23-15-6) welcomed back The Tampa Bay Lightning to the TD Garden tonight. It was the first game back for Steven Stamkos since he had broken his leg back in December 2013. While it certainly was a good game for Stamkos (who netted two goals for Tampa and earned his Second Star of the Night honors), the Boston Bruins fought back from two separate deficits to take the lead late in the second period, and never look back. The B’s edged out the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3.

Brad Marchand redeemed himself from two early penalties to open up the scoring for Boston, tying the game in the first. Milan Lucic also got a tally for the B’s tonight, although his goal was the product of a little puck luck. That puck luck has been sorely missed in Boston, and it’s nice to see it back at the Garden. While two of the veterans put up points tonight, it was a certain rookie stealing the show again for the Black and Gold tonight.

All eyes were on Czech wunderkind David Pastrnak. The eighteen year old forward earned his second straight First Star of the Game honors tonight, once again scoring twice for Boston(It was also the fourth straight game that a member of the Bruins scored two goals in one outing.). The young Czech forward brought it home for the Bruins, putting seven shots on net and finishing the night with two points and a +4. With four goals in the last two games, he’s making a serious case for Peter Chiarelli to risk burning a year off his entry-level contract.

(Then again, this is the confusing world of Peter Chiarelli. For all we know, he’s already signed the papers sending Pastrnak back to Providence (or maybe even Sweden).)

Tonight’s win increase the Bruins point total to fifty-two. They have built up a slim but noticeable lead over the Florida Panthers for the last slot in the Western Conference. The Bruins have certainly found more of their game in 2015, and that success has done nothing but lift the team’s confidence.

“Our players are feeling it right now,” said Julien of the surging Bruins. “And when you feel it you’ve got more energy, when you’re feeling it there’s no doubt you’re a little bit more inclined to step in and do the things that you have to do. This is more, obviously I think, the team we’ve seen for a long time.”

The total effort of the Bruins made the difference over a Tampa Bay that ran hot-and-cold all night. This makes four straight wins for the Black and Gold, and it extends their point streak to eight games. Have the Boston Bruins finally cleared their heads from the wreckage of 2014? If so, this Bruins squad will be heading back to the post-season for another run at the Stanley Cup.