BruinsLightning: 5 from the First

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By Joe Haggerty
CSNNE.comBOSTONHere are five thoughts from the first period with the Bruins and Lightning locked in a scoreless tie at the TD Garden after the first 20 minutes of playoff atmosphere at the TD Garden.1)A lot of posts in the first period during a rocking back-and-forth playoff-style first period between the Bruins and the Lightning. Fast-paced with some good offensive chances for both sides, and you cant help but see that the Bs no longer look outclassed in the speed department playing against skilled teams like the Lightning. Thats not a coincidence: those trades have really changed their speed and transition abilities significantly. Milan Lucic and Steve Stamkos both hit posts in the first period of a game that could very easily be 1-1.2)Milan Lucic has really turned up the intensity dial in the last few weeks as winning time has arrived down the stretch, and he threw a signature hit at Dana Tyrell near the benches right at the end of the first period. That was Loochs only registered hit of the first period, but he was all over the ice.3)Three blocked shots for Tomas Kaberle in the first seven minutes against the Tampa Bay Lightning. I continue to be impressed with the work Ive seen out of Kaberle in Bostons end after he arrived with a pretty damning defensive reputation. Hes not going to crush anybody by any means, but he hasnt looked like a turnstile in his own end either.4)Tyler Seguin scratched most likely for a couple of different reasons: to rest an ankle that got a little banged up against the Edmonton Oilers and to put a better defensive unit out onto the ice against an offense-heavy Tampa Bay Lightning squad in a pretty important Eastern Conference showdown. Dont think theres any reason at all for Seguin to be in the doghouse.5)Two shots for Brad Marchand, who took a high elbow in the late portion of the first period and looked a little fired up afterward. Milan Lucic and Victor Hedman also engaged in a little bit of a shoving match after one whistle in a game that appears like it could get a little gnarly.

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