Boston built a 3-0 lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning after the first period in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday afternoon, but the B's couldn't handle their own success, blowing the lead and ultimately losing 5-3 at St. Pete Times Forum.
It wasn't a mystery why the Bruins lost, either, as they simply stopped trying for a matter of time until it was too late. Boston goalie Tim Thomas put it best, telling the media that his team was simply outworked by Tampa Bay.
"We got outworked," Thomas said. "They took over, they outplayed us, they started getting scoring chances and we stopped getting scoring chances. (via WEEI)
Patrice Bergeron, who scored twice in the first period, had a similar viewpoint.
"It was perfect first period," Bergeron said. "We stopped battling, we stopped being hard on the forecheck which is what gave us success in the first period. in the second, we sat back, they have too much speed and too much firepower up front to do that." (via WEEI)
The best-of-seven series, which is no tied 2-2, resumes on Monday night in Boston.