Lightning strike late to top bruins, clinch playoff spot

Tampa Bay's quest for a Stanley Cup championship took a major step forward Saturday night as the Lightning edged the Boston bruins 3-1.

Breakaway goal proves decisive

With the Atlantic Division title already secured, the Lightning still had work to do to ensure a playoff berth. That's when Darren Raddysh stepped up, netting the go-ahead goal with 5:31 remaining to break a tie and send Tampa Bay to victory.

Raddysh's winner came on a sharp-angle shot from the right side, beating Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman. The goal capped off a thrilling third period that saw the game's momentum swing the Lightning's way.

Nikita Kucherov added an empty-net goal in the final minute to seal the win, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 21 saves to backstop the Tampa Bay defense.

The triumph marked the end of a successful seven-game homestand for the Lightning, who notched a 5-1-1 record during that stretch.

For Boston, the loss marked their second consecutive defeat on a four-game road trip. Casey Mittelstadt scored the Bruins' lone goal in the second period, but it wasn't enough to overcome Tampa Bay's determined offense.

The Bruins, now holders of the Eastern Conference's first wild-card spot, will look to regroup Sunday in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Lightning will aim to keep their winning ways going Monday night in Buffalo.