Thomas was rock solid, facing 31 shots to notch his second career post-season shutout as the Bruins grabbed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with Game Four also in Tampa on Saturday.
After two free-wheeling games in Boston that produced 18 goals, Game Three turned into a defensive struggle between Thomas and Lightning netminder Dwayne Roloson.
Thomas, a Vezina trophy finalist, had surrendered nine goals in the opening two contests but could not be beaten in Tampa as the Lightning outshot the visitors 31-25.
“We played more the way we wanted to play,” Thomas told reporters. “The first two games I don’t think either team played the way they wanted to.
“That felt more like a normal game. That felt like the game we played most of the season.
“Playoffs are always more faster and more energy and a few more scoring chances than a regular season game.
“But that was Boston Bruins hockey.”
Before the capacity crowd had settled into their seats, David Krejci had given the Bruins a 1-0 lead taking a feed from Milan Lucic and backhanding it past Roloson just 69 seconds after the opening faceoff.
After scoreless second period, Andrew Ference gave the Bruins some breathing room midway through the third when his blast from the point trickled between Roloson’s pads and into the net.
“Tonight’s game probably resembles a lot more of what I think everybody expected from this series, two teams that make it hard for you to score,” said Bruins coach Claude Julien.
“We made some stronger plays, some better decisions and seemed a little bit more aware out there of what was going on.
“So comparing it to last game where I thought it was pretty sloppy, I thought we bounced back well tonight.”
