Bruins to beat Lightning 3-1 to lead 3-2 in the East

 Brad Marchand was sitting on the bench when he saw Steve Downie of Tampa Bay get the puck on the crease, with nothing else that a net empty to shoot.

"I thought sure he was going to be a goal," said Bruins forward. "Those are usually pretty easy to tap-ins."

Instead, Tim Thomas at the rear and to deflect the puck with the lower edge of the stick as the blade bounced off the coast of the goal post, protect a late lead a goal in the 3-1 victory against Boston's Lightning Monday night.

"He has done a few efficient game stops," Bruins of Adam McQuaid said. "It is what you should leave your goalie, especially at this time of year." I saw the replay on TV. It was incredible. He stole one. It was a game-Eve. ?

The victory gave Boston a 3-2 lead in the East-of-seven Conference finals and a chance to reach the final of the Stanley Cup with a victory in game 6 in Tampa on Wednesday.

"We are a victory away", said Thomas. "But this is not what we need to focus on.". What we need to focus on the cheek this next game as good as we can and try to get a victory. ?

Thomas rebounded to a collapse in game 4, 33 shots to stop after he renounced another early goal - none is greater than to Downie with about 11 minutes left. Nathan Horton related, Marchand scored the game-winner and Rich Peverley empty-netter was the tire.

Goalkeeper Lightning Tampa Bay Mike Smith pounces on the puck, as it is a record after losing his stick in the first period against the Boston Bruins in the fifth game of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup final the Eastern Conference playoffs, Boston lundi23 may 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Close

"Our goal is now not to play a game 7, said Bruins coach Claude Julien." It will take our best game. ?

Tampa Bay is facing elimination for the fourth time in these playoffs, after the delay the Penguins 3-1 in the first round. The lightning would win game 6 to force a decisive game in Boston on Friday.

"Our backs were against the front wall against Pittsburgh," said before Ryan Malone. "We will not be able to win two matches in a single match." If you try to go over there, worry about the first five minutes of game and you take it from there. ?

Tampa Bay finally managed to bring his goaltender with 42 seconds, but Peverley scored an empty-netter with 12.1 seconds to go. Lightning left the extra skater on the bench for the engagement that followed, but they could not come from no more than a few shoved after the final whistle.

Thomas rebounded after allowing four consecutive goals in game 4 and may have saved the season when he stopped Downie on the edge of the crease. The crowd cheered whenever he showed a different angle on the dashboard, and Thomas could even be seen to smile through his mask when the camera is cutting him.

"It's just a confident swagger." It has certainly a who, "Said Bruins attacking Chris Kelly." "It's a game." You have to have fun with it. This is a great opportunity for us all. If you're not going to benefit, you may regret it. ?

Boston managed only 19 shots on Mike Smith, as he made his first career series start place of Dwayne Roloson.

He did not expect to play, said Smith.

"I said to myself that Rollie would return to", he said. "He also made the whole series." I was ready to go if called. Rollie was great, he has been here and to do so, and advice he gives me are stuff I just suck like a sponge. "Obviously, it is a great mentor".

Two nights after Tampa Bay rallied with five goals in a row to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win game 4, Boston simply aim of Simon won only 69 seconds in and staged a return of its own.