Thomas' 31 saves give Bruins series lead

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Tim Thomas made 31 saves for his first playoff shutout this season and second overall, Andrew Ference and David Krejci scored and the Boston Bruins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night.

Thomas, the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy as the top regular-season goalie, gave up nine goals in the first two games of the series that the Bruins lead 2-1.

Ference made it 2-0 with a shot from point at 8:12 of the third as the puck trickled between the legs of Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson and into the net.

Game 4 is Saturday in Tampa.

Patrice Bergeron returned to Boston's lineup after missing two games because of a concussion sustained when he was hit in the final game of the second round.