Lightning Top Bruins 3-1, Raddysh Breaks Franchise Record
On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Lightning punched their ticket to their ninth consecutive postseason. It’s been a season full of challenges, with injuries testing the roster at every turn, but the Lightning have stayed on track with their ultimate goal of a chance at another Stanley Cup. Defenseman Darren Raddysh made franchise history in a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins by scoring the game-winning goal late in the third period.
His 21 goals set a new single-season record for a Lightning defenseman, surpassing the 20-goal seasons of Victor Hedman (2021-22) and Dan Boyle (2006-07). “I love being in Tampa. I love everything about this place.
It’s special to me and my family,” Raddysh said of the crowd’s reception. “Just to see the support that my family’s gotten from everyone this year, t’s been awesome and we can’t thank the City of Tampa and the fans, all the players and the organization enough. It’s been such a fun ride and we clinched the playoffs today and we’re excited for what’s to come.
” After a scoreless first period, Casey Mittelstadt gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 6:47 of the second period. Tampa Bay responded in the third as Charle-Edouard D’Astous tied it 1-1, burying his own rebound from a sharp angle after his initial shot was blocked. © Pablo Robles-Imagn Images “Once we figured out their forecheck and started playing in the O-zone and bringing pucks to the net, we found a way," said D'Astous.
"We had a couple of good chances in the second to start. " Raddysh gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead at 14:29 with a wrist shot from a sharp angle that got under Jeremy Swayman's right shoulder. Nikita Kucherov sealed the win with an empty-net goal.