A Star is Born

Chris Kelly and Michael Ryder embrace teammate Tyler Seguin (left) during the Bruins' 6-5 victory over Tampa Bay in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The 19-year-old rookie finished with four total points in the game.  

On Tuesday night at the TD Garden, a riotous sell-out crowd of 17,565 had the unrivaled privilege of witnessing a star being born right before their eyes.

Turning in one of the most electric performances from a young player in Boston sports history, 19-year-old rookie Tyler Seguin scored a pair of goals and added two assists to lead the Bruins to a pivotal 6-5 victory over the Lightning in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Thanks to the spectacular offensive outburst from Seguin, the Bruins even the series at one game apiece before it shifts to Tampa Bay for Game 3 Thursday night.

"He played unbelievable," said David Krejci of Seguin. "He was dominant today and it's good to see him play like that... Obviously you're not going to see every night a four point game from him. But as long as he'll be playing with the speed he is and the intensity, he's going to bring a lot to this team."

"He was really the reason we won," admitted Brad Marchand.

After surrendering a goal 13 seconds into the game and another with just 6.5 seconds left in the first period, the Bruins entered the first intermission trailing 2-1.

However, just 48 seconds into the second period, the Black and Gold responded to tie the score 2-2. Taking a breakout feed from inside his own defensive zone, Seguin used his great speed to split two Lightning defenders near center ice before roofing a backhand past Tampa goaltender Dwayne Roloson on a partial breakaway.

Not only did the highlight-reel, top-shelf goal energize the crowd but it displayed exactly what the Bruins were hoping for from Seguin after taking him with the second overall pick in last season's draft.

"It's surprising that he really steps up like that," said Dennis Seidenberg, who logged a team-high 31:25 time-on-ice. "It's crazy. I mean he comes in, he delivers, and he played great. I mean he played good defensively and offensively, he was really explosive and created chances every time he was on the ice."

Less than two minutes after Seguin's goal tied it, Krejci tapped home a beautiful give-and-go, cross-ice feed from Seidenberg to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead.

Boston extended the lead to 4-2 at the 6:30 mark on Seguin's second goal of the game. This time, Seguin found himself on a two-on-one break with Nathan Horton. However, instead of taking the puck in close on Roloson, Seguin elected to snipe a blistering wrister past the Tampa goaltender from just inside the right circle.

The Garden faithful soon began chanting "Ty-ler Se-guin" every time the talented rookie took the ice.

A Vincent Lecavalier goal would cut the Bruins lead to 4-3. However, Seguin would assist on a pair of Michael Ryder goals near the end of the period to stake the Bruins to a 6-3 lead entering the final stanza.

To put Seguin's second period performance into perspective, the rookie became the first teenager ever to score four points in a single period during the playoffs. Furthermore, Seguin joins only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux to accomplish the feat overall.

However, after scoring five goals on nine shots during the second period, the Bruins began to fold like a lawn chair during the third period. Less than four minutes in, Steven Stamkos scored to cut the Bruins lead to 6-4. Then, midway through the period the Lightning struck again to make it 6-5.

Suddenly, Boston's once commanding lead had evaporated. And with the Lightning carrying the play in the final period, the only reason the Bruins came out on top was because of their star goaltender, Tim Thomas.

"I think in the third we sat back a little bit and we weren't skating," admitted Ryder. "We were just kind of watching a little bit. Timmy came up huge. He made a lot of big saves and that's what we need out of him this time of year. I think we have to learn from the third period that we can't do that because the team on the other side, they're not giving up."

Thomas, after starting off shaky in the first period, saved his best for last. He stood on his head in the final period and finished with 36 saves.

"He made some big saves at the end and allowed us to win that game," said head coach Claude Julien.

But, as great as Thomas was in net, it was the rookie Seguin that stole the show.

After sitting out the first 11 games of the playoffs, the kid now has six points in just two games.

"I had to get my feet wet there in the first period of Game One," admitted Seguin. "The first couple of shifts, I was nervous and excited, but i felt more poised and confident as the game went on. Tonight I felt great."

Bruins fans can feel great as well. Sure, it was a sloppy defensive game and their team barely escaped with a victory. But, in the end, the Bruins showed heart, fought back and came out on top in a game they had to have.

Plus, they got to witness the coming out party of Boston's newest hockey sensation. And, oh yeah, their best two-way player is expected to be back in the lineup for Game Three.

"When you look back at the game, it certainly wasn't the perfect game that everyone would like to see," concluded Julien. "We won a hockey game and now the series is tied 1-1. We know we have to get better. The win is what you should be looking at right now and hopefully we'll get [Patrice Bergeron] back."

Remember the date, Bruins fans.

May 17, 2011: The day Tyler Seguin's star was born.