Bruins 4, Lightning 1

One night after Boston center Marc Savard signed a contract extension worth $28 million, the only figure of significance Wednesday against the Lightning was the number two.

Savard and Patrice Bergeron had goals for Boston to open scoring in the first period before Marco Sturm netted back-to-back goals in the middle frame. Bergeron also had two assists.

“I think were trying to get some big wins here and we’re trying to stay on top of the race,” Bruins forward and former member of the Lightning Mark Recchi told Chris Dingman of Sun Sports. “We’re trying to make the most of it to stay up in the standings and to try and get on a roll here.”

Recchi finished with three assists in the contest.

Bruins net minder Tim Thomas made 39 saves on 40 shots against, allowing the Lightning’s lone goal to Jeff Halpern at the start of the final frame.

 “Boston is a team that’s hungry this year, especially in their building. When they get going they’re tough to beat,” Lightning coach Rick Tocchet told Sun Sports. “You’ve got to make sure that in the first ten minutes, you’re physical too. You’ve got to get pucks in deep against this hockey club and can’t let them get going.”

The Lightning recorded nine hits to Boston’s five through the first 15 minutes, and outshot the Bruins 16-13 through the first frame, but had trouble finding the back of the net.

Savard, on the other hand, kick-started Boston’s effort, putting the first tally on the scoreboard with his 200th career goal on the power play at 8:05 in the first period. As the opening session wound down, Bergeron doubled the lead with a second chance opportunity from the top of the crease with approximately six minutes left.

Sturm increased Boston’s advantage in the second after smacking in a rebound that slipped under the right pad of Mike Smith approximately three minutes before notching his second of the night that gave Boston a 4-0 lead going into the final period.

Halpern finally got the Bolts on the score sheet with his fourth goal of the year just as the third period opened at 1:27. Ryan Malone and Steve Downie recorded assists on the goal.

Defenseman Matt Smaby, who has been sent back and forth to and from Norfolk, saw action for the first time this season in the game. He logged 11:23 in ice time and recorded one shot on goal.

“It’s nice to get out there and it’s pretty exciting,” Smaby told Dingman. “It’s been a long couple of months, but I like the way things are going with me and I like where I am right now.”