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Bolts use three-goal first period to beat Bruins in Game 1

May 15, 2011 - 5:19 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Dwayne Roloson made 31 saves and the Tampa Bay Lightning got goals from five different players Saturday in a 5-2 victory over Boston in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Lightning scored three goals in an 85-second span in the first period, taking an early 3-0 lead mostly because the Bruins couldn't get out of their own way.

An errant kick in front of the crease, lackadaisical defense and a turnover behind the net led to the goals by Sean Bergenheim, Brett Clark and Teddy Purcell.

"A couple lucky ones," said Roloson.

The Bruins were settled down by 19-year-old Tyler Seguin, who scored in his first career playoff game after a swift move near the blueline for Boston's first goal.

But the early rally stood up and the Lightning will try to steal another win on the road in Game 2 on Tuesday.

Marc-Andre Bergeron scored on a power play in the third period and Simon Gagne potted an empty-netter for Tampa Bay's last two goals.

Johnny Boychuk had a late goal for Boston, while Tim Thomas made 29 saves in defeat.

"I think we could have had a better effort," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien. "We're going to need to be better."

Tampa Bay had nine days off after sweeping top-seeded Washington in the semifinals, while Boston rested for seven days after sweeping Philadelphia.

Only one of the teams showed rust Saturday. Boston just couldn't knock it off.

Trying desperately to clear the puck under pressure after an initial shot from the point, Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg kicked it straight to Bergenheim, who scored into an open net to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.

Clark scored just 19 seconds later, beating three Bruins on the right side and flipping a backhand that squirted through Thomas.

On their heels, the Bruins made it worse.

By himself behind the net, defenseman Tomas Kaberle inexplicably lost control of the puck, letting it slip to Purcell near the crease. Thomas made a stop with his left pad, but Purcell jammed another try through for a 3-0 lead at 12:40 of the first period.

"That third goal was a surprise," said Thomas, who is a Vezina finalist for top goaltender.

Seguin, gaining control near the Tampa zone, deked so quickly on an initial burst that Lightning defenseman Mike Lundin was knocked to the ice by his own tangled legs, leaving the teenager alone against Roloson for a wrist shot that hugged the ice on the right side.

The goal by the No. 2 overall pick in last year's NHL draft pulled the Bruins within 3-1 and was among their only highlights

A healthy scratch for Boston's first 11 postseason games, Seguin played for concussed star Patrice Bergeron, who led the Bruins with 12 points in the first two rounds but was injured in Game 4 of their sweep of the Flyers.

There were five penalties in a scoreless second period, but Boston went 0- for-3 on the power play and Tampa 0-for-2. The Lightning out-shot the Bruins 13-8 in the period.

Boston defenseman Boychuk delivered a big hip-check on Steven Stamkos at the left boards early in the third period. Later, Boychuk knocked Gagne down with a thunderous hit that was clean, but drew the ire of Tampa captain Vincent Lecavalier.

Boychuk punched Lecavalier with a gloved right fist and was whistled for roughing.

Marc-Andre Bergeron scored with 27 seconds left in the power play, beating a well-screened Thomas with a slap shot from well above the left circle that struck the top of the goaltender's stick before going in.

Gagne's empty-netter came at 17:29 and Boychuk scored with 61 seconds left.

Game Notes

Bergenheim netted his eighth goal of the playoffs...Boston beat Montreal in seven games before sweeping the Flyers...Tampa Bay also needed seven games to down Pittsburgh before sweeping the Capitals...The Bruins ended 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Lightning went 1-for-4...Martin St. Louis had an assist for Tampa. He was a college teammate of Thomas' at Vermont.