Brayden Point reaches 600 career points in Lightning's 4-1 victory over the Bruins

Brayden Point reaches 600 career points in Lightning’s 4-1 victory over the Bruins

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) breaks out ahead of Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle (13) battles with Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Mitchell Chaffee during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins with left wing Brandon Hagel (38) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Boston Bruins center John Beecher (19) tries to control the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul (20) knocks down Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei (6) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke (52) blocks a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Michael Eyssimont (23) gets held by Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) as he tries to get a shot on goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) stops a shot by Boston Bruins right wing Oliver Wahlstrom (71) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. Defending for the Lightning is right wing Mitchell Chaffee (41) (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) works around Boston Bruins left wing Cole Koepke (45) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Michael Eyssimont (23) celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins with teammates, including right wing Mitchell Chaffee (41) and defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

By ERIK ERLENDSSON

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brayden Point reached 600 career points with a power-play goal, Andrei Vasilevskiy made 27 saves and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Thursday night.

Brandon Hagel had a goal and an assist, Michael Eyssimont and Anthony Cirelli scored goals 5:03 apart in the second period, and Ryan McDonagh had two assists.

Tampa Bay has won back-to-back games after dropping dour in a row. The Lightning moved past the Bruins into third place in the Atlantic Division.

Mason Lohrei scored for Boston, and Jeremy Swayman made 27 saves. The Bruins are 0-5-1 in their last six.

Takeaways

Bruins: Lohrei became the first Boston defenseman to score since Dec. 3. … The Bruins have gone eight games without a power-play goal.

Lightning: Ryan McDonagh got his 400th career point on Cirelli’s short-handed goal. Tampa Bay hass eight short-handed goals this season.

Key moment

With the second period winding down, Nick Paul bounced a pass off the boards in the neutral zone to Mikey Eyssimont, who skated unchecked into the Boston zone and put a wrist shot from the left faceoff dot past Swayman to make it 2-0.

Key stat

Tampa Bay is 16-3-1 when scoring four or more goals.

Up next

Both teams are back in action Saturday. The Bruins are at Florida, and the Lightning are at New Jersey.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl