Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - David Pastrnak recorded his second straight two-goal game and the Boston Bruins upended the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-3, at TD Garden.
"I thought today was his best game," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien of the rookie Pastrnak, who has participated in eight games this year. "He's made unbelievable strides in half a year. He's making a case for himself (to remain in the NHL). On a game like tonight that's pretty exciting to watch a guy like that play, and not only play, but make a difference in our game."
Brad Marchand and Milan Lucic also tallied for the Bruins, winners of four straight after losing three in a row.
David Krejci and Torey Krug each posted a pair of assists while Tuukka Rask contributed 16 saves to the victory.
Steven Stamkos tallied twice and Ryan Callahan once for the Lightning, who have lost back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 19-20. Ben Bishop surrendered four goals on 34 shots in defeat.
Pastrnak circled behind Bishop and potted a Krug rebound 90 seconds into the third to give Boston a 4-2 lead. The marker gave the 18-year-old four goals in his brief career, after his two-score effort in a 3-1 win at Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon.
Tampa crept back to 4-3 with 5:42 on the clock, as Callahan was the last member of the Lightning to get his stick on a shot originating from Mark Barberio which deflected off Alex Killorn en route.
Bishop was on the bench for most of the last minute-plus in regulation, but the visitors failed to find an equalizer.
"We've just got to get back to the structure," Callahan said. "We had lapses, mistakes. You're going to have those throughout the season, but you have to realize it as quick as possible and not let it slide on you and not let it snowball."
Stamkos got his stick on a cross-ice feed by Ondrej Palat and tipped it past Rask from the right side of the crease at 9:23 of the first period to open the scoring.
Marchand evened things with 3:18 left before intermission with a wrister from a sharp angle on the right wing during a delayed penalty call.
Stamkos once more put his club on top, this time with a short-side wrister in the left circle with 9:05 to play in the second.
Pastrnak provided the Bruins' first answer with 4:36 remaining, on a brilliant individual effort with a crossover from the left wing to the right side.
There was only 53.2 showing when the hosts took a 3-2 lead, after Lucic's backhander caromed off Bishop, then Bolts defenseman Anton Stralman before settling inside the net.
Game Notes
Boston extended its franchise-best win streak on home ice against the Lightning to nine consecutive games, since Tampa Bay claimed a 5-3 decision on March 25, 2010 ... Palat added two assists in the setback ... The visitors played without forward Tyler Johnson and defenseman Victor Hedman, both injured in Monday's 7-3 loss at Philadelphia ... Both teams are in action on Thursday, as the Bruins host the Rangers and the Bolts welcome the Oilers.
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