Bruins take control of series with 3-1 win over Tampa Bay

Tim Thomas drifted to the front of the crease to cut down the angle, leaving him out of position when the shot went wide to his right, off the boards and right to Lightning forward Steve Downie.

The Boston goalie reached back, swung his stick at the puck and caught it with the bottom edge of his blade, knocking it away to protect a one-goal lead and give the Bruins a 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay that left them one win away from their first Stanley Cup finals since 1990.

Thomas bounced back from a Game 4 collapse, and Brad Marchand scored the game-winner to help give Boston a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.

The Bruins could clinch the series Wednesday night in Tampa Bay.